literatures

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'literatures' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence: "I have been reading various literatures to gain a better understanding of the subject matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The idea that free countries couldn't have their own distinctive literatures in English turned out to be wildly mistaken.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whole literatures could flourish, mature, and grow decadent before the first article got properly published – this happened to me with target zones back in the late 1980s, where my original 1988 working paper had spawned a large derivative literature by the time it actually got published.

The New York Times

After all, he is an international trade theorist rather than an empirical macroeconomist, and it is hard for anyone to stay informed about all literatures in the field.Now as it turned out, Mr Mankiw was right to be sceptical; growth has been more sluggish than the administration predicted.

The Economist

(See below Vernacular literatures).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Soon Malay, Balinese, Sundanese, and Madurese vernacular literatures emerged, all dealing with the same themes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A revival of interest in the native languages and literatures occurred only toward the close of the colonial period, as a consequence of national movements for freedom.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Australian literature, the body of literatures, both oral and written, produced in Australia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Such procedures may encourage the critic, wisely or unwisely, to discount traditional boundaries between genres, national literatures, and levels of culture; the critical enterprise begins to seem continuous with a general study of man.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some Eastern literatures (New Guinea) have not advanced beyond the stage of oral tradition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In medieval times, because of the far-reaching and complex system of feudal allegiances (not least the links of France and England), the networks of the monastic orders, the universality of Latin, and the similarities of the languages derived from Latin, there was a continual process of exchange, in form and content, among the literatures of western Europe.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Prepared for by the systematization of the Sanskrit language by Pāṇini, the development of the great epics, notably the Rāmāyaṇa, and the refinements of prosody represented by the Pāli lyrics, there arose, in the first centuries ad, a Sanskrit literary style that governed canons of taste for a millennium and remained influential far later through modern Indian languages and their literatures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing multiple national traditions, specify which "literatures" you're referring to for clarity. For instance, "English", "French", and "German literatures".

Common error

Avoid using "literatures" without specifying cultural or linguistic contexts. For instance, stating "the literatures" lacks precision; instead, specify "the literatures of Southeast Asia" for better context.

Linguistic Context

The term "literatures" functions primarily as a plural noun, denoting multiple collections or bodies of literary work. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "literatures" is used to describe different national, regional, or thematic collections of literary texts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

40%

Science

23%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "literatures" is the plural form of "literature", used to refer to multiple bodies of literary work. Ludwig confirms that the term is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, including encyclopedias, scientific articles, and news media. The phrase functions as a plural noun, serving to categorize and discuss distinct collections of written works. When using "literatures", ensure clarity by specifying the cultural, geographical, or historical context to which you are referring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

literary works

This alternative replaces the abstract noun with a more concrete term for written creations.

body of literature

This alternative presents a more formal and encompassing term for all literary works related to a specific topic or region.

literary collections

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of compiling or gathering different literary pieces.

writings

This term offers a broader scope including any form of written material, not exclusively those recognized as literature.

literary output

This alternative focuses on the productive aspect of creating literary works.

anthology of writings

It emphasizes a curated selection of writings, usually around a specific theme or author.

corpus of texts

This alternative is often used in academic context to refer to a large and structured set of texts.

collection of stories

This version focuses specifically on narrative works, excluding other forms of literature.

literary heritage

This phrase highlights the cultural and historical significance of a nation or group's literary works.

cultural narratives

This shifts the focus to the cultural significance and storytelling aspect inherent in literatures.

FAQs

How do I use "literatures" in a sentence?

You can use "literatures" to refer to the collective body of literary works from a specific region, time, or culture. For example, "The professor specialized in the study of post-colonial "African literature"".

What is the difference between "literature" and "literatures"?

"Literature" refers to the general body of written works, while "literatures" refers to multiple distinct collections or traditions of literature. For example, comparative literature often examines various national "literatures".

Are there synonyms for "literatures" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you might use phrases like "literary works", "body of literature", or "writings" as alternatives to "literatures".

When is it appropriate to use "literatures" instead of "literature"?

Use "literatures" when discussing multiple distinct traditions or collections of literary works. For instance, when comparing different national or regional literary traditions, such as "Asian literatures" versus "European literatures".