picks out of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "picks out of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to selecting or choosing something from a larger group or collection. Example: "She picks out of the available options to find the best solution for the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Bill Haas, 29, could have taken the captain's picks out of play last weekend.

The New York Times

Benniboe and goodfella493 are the frontrunners, with 58 correct picks out of a possible 96.

The Guardian - Sport

Uma Blue continues to lead the way with 33 correct picks out of a possible 48.

The Guardian - Sport

The N.F.L. has a tough enough time trying to keep its college draft picks out of trouble off the field.

The New York Times - Sports

What he picks out of the water with his Kevlar-gloved hand is not pretty but it has presence.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When I pulled her picks out of the bag, I put everything on, like a kid – the hat, the shades, all of it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

I was picked out of the poverty cycle.

The Guardian

O'Connell was a third-round draft pick out of San Diego State.

The New York Times - Sports

Perhaps the idea was picked out of a hat.

The New York Times - Arts

Patterson, 28, was the Eagles' first-round pick out of Southern California in 2005.

The New York Times - Sports

The Skyna is enormous, extremely well known, and readily picked out of the skyline.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "picks out of" when you want to emphasize the act of carefully selecting or choosing something specific from a larger group or collection. For example, "She carefully picks out of the pile of clothes to find the perfect outfit."

Common error

Avoid using "picks out of" interchangeably with phrases that imply creation or alteration, like "makes out of" or "creates from". "Picks out of" implies selection from an existing set, while others imply transformation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picks out of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the action of selecting or choosing something from a larger set or collection. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase is used to describe a selective action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Sport

25%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "picks out of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that describes the action of selecting something specific from a larger group. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, but its neutral tone allows it to be used across various registers. While "selects from" or "chooses from" can serve as alternatives, "picks out of" effectively conveys the nuance of careful or deliberate selection. Keep in mind that the expression is most appropriate when referring to selection of something already existing in a set, rather than making something out of it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

selects from

Focuses on the act of choosing from a set of options.

chooses from

Emphasizes the decision-making aspect of selecting.

extracts from

Highlights the removal of something from a larger entity.

singles out from

Suggests selecting one item from many, often with a specific purpose.

identifies from

Focuses on recognizing and distinguishing something from a group.

culls from

Implies a selective removal, often of inferior items.

gathers from

Indicates collecting items from a dispersed source.

obtains from

Highlights the act of acquiring something from a source.

plucks from

Suggests a quick and often random selection.

separates from

Focuses on the act of distinguishing one thing from others.

FAQs

How can I use "picks out of" in a sentence?

Use "picks out of" to describe the action of selecting something specific from a larger group or collection. For example: "The chef picks out of the garden the freshest herbs for the dish."

What are some alternatives to "picks out of"?

You can use alternatives like "selects from", "chooses from", or "extracts from" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "picks out of"?

While grammatically sound, "picks out of" might sound slightly informal in certain contexts. In very formal writing, consider using alternatives like "selects from" or "extracts from".

What's the difference between "picks out of" and "makes out of"?

"Picks out of" implies selecting something that already exists, while "makes out of" implies creating something new from existing materials. For example, you "pick out of" a group of candidates, but you "make something out of" wood.