literary corpus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "literary corpus" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in academic or literary discussions to refer to a collection of written works or texts by a particular author, genre, or period. Example: "The literary corpus of Shakespeare includes not only his plays but also his sonnets and poems."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Since then, rental relatives have inspired a substantial literary corpus.

The New Yorker

Of Simonides' extensive literary corpus, only fragments remain, most of them short.

Britannica

Since 2002, Simon & Schuster Audio has been bringing out ("reintroducing... to a new generation of listeners," as the liner notes put it) virtually the full Hemingway literary corpus.

The New York Times - Books

And he writes the following: "In truth, this is easily the most unusual thing about me: I am the only hereditary novelist in the anglophone literary corpus".

The New Yorker

A forest has been planted just outside Oslo and in 2114 the collection will be published in a book printed on paper made from the trees that will grow alongside the literary corpus.

The Guardian - Books

Latin America's Indigenous writers have long labored under the limits of colonialism, but in the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries, they have constructed a literary corpus that moves them beyond those parameters.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Montemurro, M. A. & Pury, P. A. Long-range fractal correlations in literary corpora.

Nature

Yet, as he readily admitted, it is as an American that his philosophical and literary corpuses are to be judged.

SEP

The CEDAR project team will use selected materials from three well known literary corpora that have had great cultural impact and long histories of transmission and translation: the Gilgamesh Epic, the Bible, and Shakespeare's plays.

University of Chicago

(In the case of Shakespeare's plays, "manuscripts" includes the earliest printed editions, with all their variants). CEDAR will show how the same underlying data model and software can be used for three very different literary corpora written in different historical periods using different languages and writing systems and which today are studied by different communities of scholars.

University of Chicago

From a literary perspective the Theognidean corpus, although a composite, expresses a unified worldview, pessimistic and deeply rooted in an aristocratic milieu that was in crisis in the 6th century bc.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific author's work, consider using "literary corpus" to emphasize the breadth and depth of their contributions to literature.

Common error

Avoid the common error of mistaking "corpus", which refers to a body of work, with "corpse", which refers to a dead body. Ensure the context clearly indicates a collection of writings, not a deceased individual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "literary corpus" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a collection of written works that are considered together as a single body of literature. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

40%

News & Media

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "literary corpus" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that refers to a body of literary works. Ludwig AI indicates its usage is appropriate in various formal contexts, especially academia, news media, and scientific research. While alternatives like "body of literature" and "collected works" exist, "literary corpus" provides a specific and well-understood way to denote a complete set of writings for scholarly discussion. Remember to avoid confusing "corpus" with "corpse" and consider the formal tone when using this phrase. The phrase is well-supported by authoritative sources, making it a reliable choice for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

body of literature

Replaces "corpus" with the more general term "body", resulting in a slightly broader meaning.

collected works

Focuses on the aspect of being collected or compiled, suitable when emphasizing completeness.

complete works

Emphasizes that all known works are included, useful when completeness is key.

literary output

Highlights the production aspect of the works, emphasizing the act of creating literature.

written oeuvre

Uses a more formal term, "oeuvre", to denote the complete body of an author's work.

canon of literature

Implies a set of works that are considered important or authoritative within a specific field or culture.

sum of writings

Offers a more literal and descriptive alternative, suitable for general contexts.

compilation of texts

Emphasizes the act of compiling various texts, suitable when describing a collection from diverse sources.

library of writings

Highlights the extensive and diverse nature of the collected works.

literary heritage

Focuses on the cultural and historical significance of the literary works.

FAQs

How is "literary corpus" typically used in academic writing?

In academic writing, "literary corpus" is used to refer to the complete collection of written works by a particular author, about a specific subject, or from a defined period. It often appears in literary analysis, historical studies, and comparative literature.

What are some alternatives to using "literary corpus"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "body of literature", "collected works", or "complete works". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "literary corpus" formal or informal language?

"Literary corpus" is generally considered formal language, suitable for academic, professional, and literary contexts. It might be less appropriate for informal conversation or casual writing.

What is the difference between "literary corpus" and "literary canon"?

While both terms refer to collections of literary works, "literary corpus" is a more neutral and comprehensive term, simply referring to the total output of a writer or period. "Literary canon", on the other hand, implies a selection of works deemed to be the most important or influential within a tradition.