orientation

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "orientation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the process or action of introducing someone to a new job, environment, or situation, or to provide someone with information they need to understand a concept, topic, or skill. Example sentence: After Margaret was hired as a receptionist at the company, she attended an orientation program to learn about company policies and procedures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There needs to be more diversity in terms of age, race, sexual orientation in our media," said Malik.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I think those lessons are about direction and purpose and orientation of the party rather than about personalities".

The Guardian

While nothing is certain in life, experience of university today must surely involve students socialising with those of different national, ethnic, class, religious, political, age, physical ability, sexual and sexual orientation backgrounds.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, not only do many NGOs allow discrimination based on sexual orientation to happen in their countries of operation, but they even justify discriminatory attitudes with religious and cultural arguments, let alone if there is no supportive legal body in that particular country.

The Guardian

Hate crimes are not considered by the FBI to be "a distinct federal offense", but federal agencies frequently get involved when murder cases involve religion, race, disability and sexual orientation.

The Guardian

This is how they break down: 35,816 (82%) were race hate crimes 1,621 (4%) were religion hate crimes 4,252 (10%) were sexual orientation hate crimes 1,744 (4%) were disability hate crimes  315 (1%) were transgender hate crimes The data shows that the majority of all hate crimes (83%) involved violence - and the worst proportion for that was race hate crimes - 85% were violent offences.

The Guardian

Medieval mapmakers wanted to chart their orientation to the Garden of Eden or Mecca; Mercator wanted to make things easier for sea-faring navigators; and colonialists wanted to plot the extents of their empires.

The Guardian

We are pro-equal rights and have been running vociferous campaigns against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation," Kalbag said.

The Guardian

White House spokesman Shin Inouye said President Barack Obama welcomed the Scouts' decision regarding gay youth but "continues to believe that leadership positions in the Scouts should be open to all, regardless of sexual orientation".

The Guardian

It's almost like mocking someone's sexual orientation in order to advance themselves," he said.

The Guardian - Business

He was coerced into outing himself by a friend of his father's who'd guessed about his orientation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a program designed to introduce new employees to a company, use "orientation" to clearly convey the purpose of the program. For instance, "The new employee orientation will cover company policies and procedures."

Common error

Avoid using "orienting" when you mean "orientation". "Orienting" is the act of positioning something, while "orientation" is the program or state of being oriented. For example, say "new employee orientation", not "new employee orienting".

Linguistic Context

The word "orientation" functions primarily as a noun. It refers to the act of orienting or the state of being oriented. It can describe a formal introduction, a direction, or an inclination. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "orientation" is a versatile noun with several meanings, including the act of orienting, a state of being oriented, and an inclination or direction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. When writing, remember that "orientation" refers to the program or state, while "orienting" is the act of positioning something. Common alternatives include "sense of direction" and "introductory session". The expert rating is high, reflecting the term's correctness, authoritative sources, and consistent usage. Considering the varied meanings of the word "orientation", users should make sure their intent and context are well defined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sense of direction

Focuses on the physical or metaphorical ability to navigate or understand one's position or purpose.

introductory session

Emphasizes the formal introduction to a new environment, role, or topic.

initial guidance

Highlights the aspect of providing preliminary direction or advice.

training program

Suggests a more structured and comprehensive learning experience.

basic introduction

Focuses on providing fundamental knowledge or understanding.

preliminary briefing

Highlights the act of providing essential information beforehand.

fundamental principles

Refers to the core beliefs or concepts that guide one's actions or thoughts.

core values

Emphasizes the guiding principles or beliefs that shape behavior and decisions.

positioning

Highlights the specific placement or alignment of something in relation to its surroundings.

tendency

Focuses on a prevailing inclination or direction.

FAQs

How can I use "orientation" in a sentence?

You can use "orientation" to refer to the process of introducing someone to a new environment, like in the sentence, "The university offers an orientation program for incoming students." It can also refer to a person's beliefs or preferences, such as, "Her political orientation is liberal."

What's the difference between "orientation" and "direction"?

"Orientation" often refers to a general sense of position or alignment, whether physical or conceptual, while "direction" implies a specific path or course. For example, you might say "the building's orientation relative to the sun" or "the company needs a new direction".

What can I say instead of "sexual orientation"?

While "sexual orientation" is a common and accepted term, you might use phrases like "sexual preference" or "sexual identity" in some contexts, though these alternatives may have different connotations or levels of formality. It is best to stick to "sexual orientation".

What is the difference between "orientation" and "introduction"?

"Orientation" often implies a structured program or process designed to familiarize someone with something new, whereas "introduction" is a more general term for presenting something or someone for the first time. Consider the sentence, "The company provided a new employee orientation," versus, "Let me give you an introduction to our team."