lexical items

USAGE SUMMARY

"lexical items" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a term used in linguistics to refer to individual words or phrases that make up a language's lexicon, or dictionary. For example, "He had heard of several lexical items in the ancient language, but none of them seemed to fit the context."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The model takes an exoskeletal view, where lexical items are inserted late and where syntactic structure is generated independently of lexical items.

Stanford University

In general, the languages with more tone levels use tone to distinguish lexical items rather than grammatical constructions.

Britannica

A major issue in lexical processing concerns storage and access of lexical items.

Brain Research

There are also many lexical items common to Baltic and Slavic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Title: Elicitation of miscellaneous lexical items such as numbers and body parts.

University of California, Berkeley

In contrast, only a handful of lexical items and songs are remembered of Omurano.

University of California, Berkeley

Several other papers take a similarly close look at lexical items in languages other than English.

Stanford University

OLAC Record: Collector attempts to elicit lexical items and a description of hunting.

University of California, Berkeley

OLAC Record: Elicitation of miscellaneous lexical items such as numbers and body parts.

University of California, Berkeley

The most advanced device for imposing structure on lexical information is that of inheritance, both at the object (lexical items) and meta (lexical concepts) levels of lexicon.

Artificial Intelligence

Speaking while signing following English grammar puts lexical items out of order in ASL and can make the signing seem disjointed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lexical items" when you need a formal and precise way to refer to the individual words or phrases that make up a language's vocabulary, especially in linguistic or academic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "lexical items" in casual or informal writing where simpler terms like "words" or "vocabulary" would be more appropriate and easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lexical items" is as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It refers to individual words or phrases within a language's vocabulary. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

Academia

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

News & Media

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lexical items" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that refers to the individual words or phrases within a language's vocabulary. As Ludwig AI confirms, this term is suitable for use in written English. While the term is most common in academic, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, it appears less frequently in news, wiki, and business settings. It is most appropriate to use this term when precision is required in linguistic analysis or formal writing. Remember to opt for simpler terms like "words" or "phrases" in more casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

items in the lexicon

Directly references the lexicon, which is a language's inventory of words or morphemes.

words and phrases

Breaks down "lexical items" into its constituent parts, emphasizing both single words and multi-word units.

vocabulary entries

Replaces "lexical items" with a term focusing on the vocabulary aspect, implying a list or collection of words.

elements of vocabulary

Emphasizes the vocabulary aspect and the components that make it up.

vocabulary words

Focuses on the vocabulary aspect using a common and easily understandable term.

vocabulary components

Highlights that vocabulary consists of smaller, individual parts.

lexemes

A more technical term in linguistics that refers to the smallest contrastive unit of meaning in a language.

terms

A more general term applicable to specific words or phrases used in a particular context or field.

linguistic units

A broader term that encompasses any unit of language, including words, phrases, and morphemes.

verbal units

A more general term for units related to language and speech.

FAQs

How can I use "lexical items" in a sentence?

"Lexical items" refers to the words and phrases that make up a language. For example: "The researcher analyzed the "lexical items" used in the poem to determine its overall theme."

What's the difference between "lexical items" and "vocabulary"?

"Vocabulary" refers to the entire set of words in a language, while "lexical items" refers to specific individual words or phrases within that vocabulary. So, vocabulary is the whole, and lexical items are the parts.

What are some alternatives to "lexical items"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "vocabulary words", "words and phrases", or "terms".

Is "lexical items" appropriate for all types of writing?

While "lexical items" is a correct and precise term, it's more suited for academic and formal writing. In more casual contexts, simpler terms like "words" or "phrases" might be more appropriate.