making a selection of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making a selection of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of choosing or picking from a group of options or items. Example: "After reviewing all the candidates, the committee is making a selection of the most qualified individuals for the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It is an argument for making a selection of the chosen reference blood samples where the selected probes should have MCV corresponding to the patient's RBC MCV.

Annals of Hematology

To take advantage of the offer, we must buy 40, he says, and making making a selection of this number will not be difficult.

The New Yorker

The first was from Elsevier, which decided in October to honour the newly minted Nobel laureates by making a selection of the papers they had published in the company's journals freely available.

The Guardian

Coward's range as a composer was certainly remarkable, and in making a selection of his songs from the 1920s and 1930s for a recording I have been struck by the sheer variety of genre.

The Guardian - Music

Making a selection of the hits and the misses from the 10 years during which Berry has been calling the shots at the Coliseum isn't straightforward; but there were certainly many more of the former than the latter that could have been included.

The Guardian - Music

Making a selection of Snyder's poetry for a teaching course in 1976, Ginsberg writes: "I went thru last book" — "Turtle Island" — "looking for examples of hard-line riprap solidity and noticed you were getting as bad as me into psychopolitical generalization which violated 'no ideas but in things' rule".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

David made a selection of 60-70 songs.

The Guardian

From this, I make a selection of artists who I believe represent some of the best work being made today.

The New Yorker

I'll try and make a selection of portraits of them at the weekend, and post them up here next week.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Claudia made a selection of vegan dips to go with them; the cashew and rocket butter went really well with the rye.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We were fortunate enough to be able to make a selection of people we wanted to meet in their favourite spots.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "making a selection of" items, clearly define your criteria to ensure a focused and justifiable choice. This is especially helpful in academic or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "making a selection of" when a more precise verb like "choosing", "selecting", or "identifying" would provide greater clarity and impact. For example, instead of "making a selection of potential candidates", try "selecting potential candidates."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making a selection of" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of choosing or selecting from a larger set. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is commonly used to describe the process of choosing specific items for a particular purpose or reason, as evidenced by the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making a selection of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the process of choosing or picking items from a larger set. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's versatile enough for both formal and informal contexts, though it often appears in news and scientific publications. While effective, it is worth remembering that more concise options like "selecting" might sometimes be preferable for clarity. When crafting your writing, clearly define your selection criteria and avoid overuse of vague language. Several alternative phrases, such as "choosing a subset of" or "selecting some of", can provide more nuance depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

selecting some of

A straightforward alternative, maintaining a neutral tone.

choosing a subset of

Focuses on selecting a smaller group from a larger one; more specific.

picking out a few of

More informal, suggesting a less formal or rigorous selection process.

handpicking several of

Emphasizes a personal and careful choice.

opting for a portion of

Emphasizes making a deliberate choice for a part of the whole.

curating a list of

Suggests a careful and deliberate selection process, often with an artistic or thematic focus.

identifying a number of

Focuses on recognizing and singling out items from a larger group.

drawing a sample from

Implies a statistical or representative selection.

extracting a segment of

Suggests a technical or precise removal of a part.

whittling down to

Implies a reduction process to arrive at a final selection.

FAQs

How can I use "making a selection of" in a sentence?

You can use "making a selection of" to describe the process of choosing items from a larger group. For example, "The committee is currently making a selection of candidates for the final interviews".

What are some alternatives to "making a selection of"?

Alternatives include "selecting some of", "choosing a subset of", or simply "selecting" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "making a selection of" or just "selecting"?

While both are correct, "selecting" is often more concise and direct. "Making a selection of" can be used when you want to emphasize the process of choosing from a larger group, but "selecting" is generally preferable for its brevity.

What is the difference between "making a selection of" and "handpicking several of"?

"Making a selection of" is a general term for choosing items. "Handpicking several of" implies a more careful, personal, and deliberate choice, often suggesting a higher level of scrutiny or preference.