literature

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'literature' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to mean a body of written works, such as books and plays, or, more generally, any written material. For example, "We read a selection of classic literature in our English class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only 3% of them mentioned the experience of men in their literature.

The Guardian

It was only a strange error that led to the historical obsession with GDP As someone who has worked on these issues for three decades, I have observed that, sadly, most people who criticise the idea of measuring happiness are handicapped by the fact they know little about the research literature on the topic.

The Guardian

This question arose at Words and Wickets, a splendid day at Wormsley that combined cricket and literature into a potent draft.

The Guardian - Sport

Pasternak was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1958, though under threat of arrest or exile he could not collect it.

The Guardian - Books

From the early 1990s, the public literature of US defence policy shows, strategic and military planners foresaw a world in which the United States had no significant state adversary.

The Guardian - Tech

My friends and I have found Google Docs useful for exchanging notes, especially sharing quotes for English literature.

The Guardian

So much here prefigures the tropes found in modern winter literature: family and friends gather for warmth and jollity, feasting is the order of the day, good cheer is lubricated by heroic quantities of booze … and then the stranger arrives.

The Guardian - Books

Schlepping Australian novels with me to Italy became a private ritual, and never, ever have I felt as happy as when mired in the gentle sea and sunshine beside the Mediterranean while breathing in the literature of an the island continent where I grew up, a place I knew intimately but, somehow, preferred from afar.

The Guardian - Opinion

He is former dean of the faculty of arts and humanities, professor of literature, and director of the centre for creative and performing arts at the University of East Anglia.

The Guardian

Reading an awful lot of feminist literature also helped!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As the writer Vanessa Veselka points out, in literature the road often symbolises the beginning of a journey for men, whereas for women it symbolises the end.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a specific field of study, specify the type of "literature" you are referring to, such as 'scientific literature' or 'legal literature'.

Common error

Avoid using "literature" as a blanket term without specifying the context or subject matter. Instead of saying 'The literature shows...', specify 'The research literature on climate change shows...'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "literature" is as a noun, referring to the body of written works or publications on a specific subject. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable status in written English, as seen in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "literature" is a noun that refers to a body of written works. According to Ludwig, the word is correctly used and can be used across many contexts. The analysis reveals that "literature" is very common, appearing frequently in news, business, and scientific contexts. While usage is generally neutral in register, formality increases in academic settings. The related phrases, such as "written works" and "body of work", provide alternative ways to convey similar meanings with slightly different emphasis. When using "literature", specify the context to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

literary works

Highlights the artistic and creative aspect of the writings.

written works

Emphasizes the form of expression as written material.

creative writing

Highlights the imaginative and original nature of the writing.

body of work

Focuses on the complete collection of someone's creative output.

literary compositions

Stresses the act of creating written pieces.

publications

Focuses on the aspect of making the works available to the public.

scholarly articles

Refers to works produced by researchers or scholars.

written material

A broad term encompassing any form of writing.

academic papers

Specifically refers to scholarly articles and research.

printed matter

Emphasizes the physical form of the writing once it has been printed.

FAQs

How to use "literature" in a sentence?

You can use "literature" to refer to a body of written works, such as "classic literature", or to the published works on a specific subject, such as "scientific literature".

What can I say instead of "literature"?

You can use alternatives like "written works", "body of work", or "publications" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "literature" or "literatures"?

"Literature" is generally used as a singular noun to refer to a general collection of written works. "Literatures" is used when referring to multiple distinct bodies of literature, such as "world literatures".

What's the difference between "literature" and "fiction"?

"Literature" is a broader term encompassing all written works, while "fiction" specifically refers to imaginative or invented stories.