own a collection

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "own a collection" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when referring to a person collecting various items such as books, CDs, stamps, etc. For example: "John is a passionate collector and proudly owns a collection of rare coins."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"We own a collection of really good businesses," Mr. Grout said.

The New York Times

He also published important law books of his own: A Collection of All the Statutes (1557) and A Collection of Entrees (1566).

Encyclopedia Britannica

If you own a collection of paraphernalia -- folding keyboards, modems and the like -- from Palms you've since dumped on eBay, you may miss the not-so-Universal Connector.

The New York Times - Tech

Three years later she published, on her own, a collection of stories with the title "The Sex Chronicles" and sold 108,000 copies at $22 apiece.

The New York Times - Style

An important legal point: Holding companies that own a collection of small lines do not have to aggregate revenue in determining their size class.

Forbes

Examples of both approaches (sometimes even in one paper) can be found in Louise Antony and Charlotte Witt's A Mind of One's Own, a collection of papers that focused on reason and objectivity in both the history of Western philosophy and various fields of contemporary philosophy (1993/2002).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Vincent owns a collection now worth over a million.

The New Yorker

Science – Mr. Qaddafi owns a collection of exotic pets.

The New York Times

He owns a collection of beefsteak-cooking utensils, and doesn't mind lending them out.

The New Yorker

Owning a collection was allowed, but profiting from it was a crime.

The New York Times - Arts

Coe loves jazz, especially Lester Young and Billie Holiday, and owns a collection of 3,000 recordings.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a personal hobby or interest, use "own a collection" to clearly convey active engagement in collecting.

Common error

Avoid using "own a collection" when describing items simply present in a space without active curation. Instead, use "have a collection" or "there is a collection of" to avoid implying personal ownership.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "own a collection" functions as a verb phrase indicating possession or ownership of multiple items gathered together. Ludwig AI confirms this aligns with common usage, demonstrating how individuals or entities possess various types of collections.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "own a collection" is a verb phrase used to indicate possession of a group of items, commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While neutral in register, it conveys a sense of active engagement in collecting. Related phrases include "possess a compilation" or "have an assemblage". When using this phrase, be mindful of implying active curation versus simple possession. "Own a collection" appears in authoritative sources like The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possess a compilation

Replaces 'own' with 'possess' and 'collection' with 'compilation', implying formal ownership and organized gathering.

have an assemblage

Substitutes 'own' with 'have' and 'collection' with 'assemblage', suggesting a less formal ownership of a group of items.

maintain a hoard

Changes 'collection' to 'hoard', implying a large and possibly excessive accumulation.

keep a set

Replaces 'collection' with 'set', suggesting a group of items designed to be used together.

command a repository

Emphasizes control and authority over a storage of items, using 'command' instead of 'own' and 'repository' instead of 'collection'.

hold a portfolio

Implies a collection of investments or assets, replacing 'collection' with 'portfolio'.

stockpile a range

Suggests accumulating a diverse variety of items, substituting 'own' with 'stockpile' and 'collection' with 'range'.

accumulate a selection

Emphasizes the process of gathering a curated group of items, using 'accumulate' instead of 'own' and 'selection' instead of 'collection'.

dominate an anthology

Suggests a controlling influence over a collection of literary works, replacing 'own' with 'dominate' and 'collection' with 'anthology'.

feature a gallery

Implies showcasing a collection of art or valuable items, substituting 'own' with 'feature' and 'collection' with 'gallery'.

FAQs

How can I use "own a collection" in a sentence?

You can use "own a collection" to describe personal hobbies or assets. For instance, "He "owns a collection" of vintage guitars" or "She "owns a collection" of rare books".

What can I say instead of "own a collection"?

Alternatives include "possess a compilation" or "have an assemblage" depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it better to say "own a collection of" or "have a collection of"?

"Own a collection of" emphasizes personal ownership and active curation, while "have a collection of" is more general and can refer to simply possessing items without necessarily being a collector. The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

What is the difference between "own a collection" and "curate a collection"?

"Own a collection" indicates possession, whereas "curate a collection" implies actively selecting, organizing, and presenting items with a specific theme or purpose. You can "own a collection" without curating it, but curating inherently involves owning or having access to the items.