mustering

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'mustering' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to the act of gathering something together, usually people, animals, or resources, and is often used in the military context. For example: The army was mustering its troops in preparation for the battle.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Another slick move saw Surman centre for Wilson to control, spin and dispatch at pace in the 78th minute to leave the majority in the arena bellowing: "We are Premier League" into the night sky and mustering joyfully on the touchline.

The Guardian - Sport

They aren't hard to spot: hanging around in the Sicilian countryside, huddled at the railway stations of middle Europe, mustering in the cafes of Athens or in the ghettoes of Amsterdam or Stockholm.

The Guardian

In Bulgaria the new Order, Law and Justice party is mustering just over 2% in the national polls.

The Guardian

Beyond that, uniquely in modern times, we may not know the name of the next tenant of 10 Downing Street until after two or three weeks of haggling to form an administration, one capable of mustering a majority – 326 votes out of 650 – in the House of Commons at Westminster.

The Guardian

Sergeant Alex Vogt of New South Wales police traffic support group VIP cycles gave the waiting crowd something to watch as he went about his important work mustering cars for the royal getaway.

The Guardian

Hearings before the mid-terms would, it is true, allow the Senate to vote when the Democrats can still generally rely on mustering a simple majority.

The Economist

The shadow home secretary, David Davis, is a frontrunner for the Tory leadership and wants to impress the party's liberal wing.However, despite some disquiet on the government benches about the implications for civil liberties, the chances of the rebels mustering the 34 votes needed to kill the bill are remote.

The Economist

The army had hinted last week that this travel ban would be lifted, but later "backtracked", according to Mr Arafat's spokesman.Even if Mr Arafat manages to organise a full sitting of MPs, he may be no more successful in mustering a parliamentary majority for this cabinet than he was for the last lot.

The Economist

Mustering all his gravitas, and with a hint of irony, Mr Sarkozy replied: "To be president of the republic, you have to be calm .An earlier poll had suggested that voters saw Mr Sarkozy as more "robust" and "coherent", while Ms Royal was "nicer".

The Economist

China's "netizens" frequently use occasions like these to criticise their own government in Beijing for not mustering as fierce a stance with regard to the disputed islets as is its old enemy, the KMT.

The Economist

Had the Tories anything like as many of these as Labour is mustering, there would be less wishful talk of "weaponising Boris".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mustering", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being gathered or assembled. For instance, specify "mustering support" or "mustering resources" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "mustering" in overly casual or informal conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "gathering" or "collecting" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mustering" is as a present participle or gerund form of the verb "muster". It describes the action of assembling or gathering something, often with a specific purpose in mind. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

17%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Independent

8%

The New Yorker

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mustering" is a versatile term that effectively conveys the action of gathering or assembling something, often for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and formal writing. While alternatives like "gathering" or "assembling" may be suitable in some cases, "mustering" implies a more organized and strategic effort. Therefore, consider the context and desired tone when choosing whether to use "mustering" or a simpler alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gathering

This alternative directly replaces the action of bringing things together, similar to "mustering".

assembling

This term emphasizes the structured or organized collection of items or people, much like "mustering" in a formal setting.

marshalling

This word implies a more controlled and strategic gathering, akin to "mustering" resources for a specific purpose.

rallying

Focuses on bringing people together for a common cause or support, similar to "mustering" support or troops.

summoning

Highlights the act of calling forth or convening, resembling "mustering" people to a meeting or assembly.

mobilizing

This alternative emphasizes preparing and organizing for action, paralleling "mustering" forces or resources.

accumulating

Focuses on gradually gathering or collecting something over time, similar to "mustering" evidence or data.

garnering

Emphasizes the effort to obtain or collect something, akin to "mustering" support or attention.

generating

This term indicates the creation or production of something, similar to "mustering" enthusiasm or support.

conjuring

This implies bringing something into existence as if by magic, similar to "mustering" a feeling or idea.

FAQs

How can I use "mustering" in a sentence?

You can use "mustering" to describe gathering resources, support, or troops. For example, "The general was "mustering troops" for the upcoming battle" or "The organization is "mustering support" for their new initiative".

What are some alternatives to "mustering"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "mustering" include "gathering", "assembling", "rallying", or "mobilizing".

When is it appropriate to use "mustering"?

"Mustering" is appropriate when describing a deliberate and often organized effort to bring together people, resources, or support, especially in formal or strategic contexts. It is common in news and media, encyclopedias, and other formal writing.

What's the difference between "mustering" and "gathering"?

While both terms involve bringing things together, "mustering" often implies a more formal, organized, or strategic collection process than "gathering". "Mustering" is frequently used in military or organizational contexts, while "gathering" can be more general.