patrols

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'patrols' is a correct and usable term in written English.
It can be used as a noun or a verb and refers to the act of conducting regular surveillance or monitoring of a particular area or group. Example 1: The soldiers were assigned to go on daily patrols to secure the border. Example 2: The police increased their patrols in the neighborhood after a string of break-ins. Example 3: The park ranger spotted a group of poachers during his routine patrols. Example 4: The volunteers took turns patrolling the beach to ensure the safety of the turtle hatchlings. Example 5: The security team patrols the premises at regular intervals to prevent any unauthorized access.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They either had no forest patrols or the patrols weren't following their schedules.

The Guardian

Fearing for the officer's safety, Coeur d'Alene police arranged patrols outside his house.

The Guardian

So serious is the disorder that police are conducting frequent patrols around the Bassingbourn base as residents of the nearby village fear more "escapes" and attacks.

The Guardian

For most of the afternoon before the show, the police were busy tearing down psychedelic fly-posters – "Blossom Toes, group Auglicki" – which, despite the armed patrols, had appeared in the city centre overnight.

The Guardian

Extra patrols, including armed officers, are patrolling the area to provide some reassurance to the community.

The Guardian

The office of the defence minister, Kevin Andrews, said Australia would "continue to transit the South China Sea" but emphasised that such patrols were not a new phenomenon and that the government had not had any formal discussions with its close ally, the US.

The Guardian

Even so, patrols in the red light district were not increased despite one of the 'regulars' mysteriously vanishing.

The Guardian

After oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man and an important political broker, came out in the past fortnight against the separatist movement, he also ordered his factories to provide unarmed worker patrols to ensure order in the city.

The Guardian

Boff has also suggested the establishment of "Canadian-style safe houses" and "citizen patrols" to lessen youth violence and anti-social street behaviour.

The Guardian

Money from fines is supposed to pay the patrols a per-diem income but they have received none to date.

The Guardian

It is also hard to catch and fine offenders, who enter the forest when they know the patrols are not around, or run away when they are.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "patrols" to refer to a group engaged in monitoring activities, especially in security or military contexts. Ensure that the context clearly indicates who is conducting the patrols and why.

Common error

Avoid using "patrols" in contexts where continuous monitoring isn't implied. For example, don't say "the teachers patrol the library" if they only occasionally check the library; instead, say "the teachers monitor the library".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "patrols" is as a plural noun, referring to groups of people or vehicles engaged in patrolling. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where "patrols" functions as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "patrols" functions primarily as a plural noun to describe the act of monitoring or the groups conducting the monitoring. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and very common, especially in news and formal contexts. When using "patrols", ensure the context aligns with continuous monitoring and consider alternatives like "security details" or "surveillance teams" for nuanced meanings. The most common mistake is using "patrols" in contexts where regular monitoring isn't implied. Its usage in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist affirms its validity and relevance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

monitoring operations

Emphasizes the continuous observation and tracking of activities.

vigilance operations

Highlights the active monitoring of an area to prevent problems.

surveillance teams

Emphasizes the surveillance aspect of the activity.

security details

Focuses on the personnel assigned for security rather than the act of patrolling.

guard duty

Highlights the responsibility of guarding a specific location or area.

security rounds

Implies a repetitive sequence of checking different points.

border watch

Specifically refers to monitoring activity at a border.

coast guard

Implies monitoring of coastal areas.

sentinel duty

Focuses on the role of a guard or watchman.

observation posts

Focuses on fixed positions used for observation.

FAQs

How to use "patrols" in a sentence?

You can use "patrols" to describe the act of regularly monitoring an area, as in, "The police increased their "patrols" in the neighborhood". It can also refer to the group performing the monitoring, like in the sentence, "Border "patrols" are essential for national security".

What can I say instead of "patrols"?

You can use alternatives like "security details", "surveillance teams", or "monitoring operations" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "patrols" or "patrolling"?

"Patrols" is typically used as a plural noun referring to the groups performing patrol duties or instances of patrolling. "Patrolling" is a verb or gerund describing the act of conducting a patrol. For instance, "The soldiers conduct regular "patrols"," versus "The soldiers are "patrolling" the area".

What's the difference between "patrols" and "guards"?

"Patrols" implies a continuous, often mobile, monitoring activity over an area, while "guards" typically suggests a static or fixed presence to protect a specific location or person. A "patrols" involves moving through an area, whereas "guards" are stationed at a point.