plot

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "plot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a noun to refer to a plan or scheme, a sequence of events, or an area of land, or as a verb to refer to planning or plotting something. Example sentence: He plotted to overthrow the government.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McIntyre dismissed Gerry Adams's description of the project as a "malicious" plot against him.

The Guardian

The things I watch tend to have huge plot holes, coinciding with the stretches I've slept through.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The plot can be boiled down to one sentence: "Unhappy woman has bad time in space but survives against the odds".

The Guardian - Film

While Crawley has a proportionately much smaller Muslim population than others on the list, the West Sussex town was in the spotlight last year as the home of the first British jihadi suicide bomber of the Syrian civil war, and of three men jailed in 2007 for a bomb plot investigated by police under Operation Crevice.

The Guardian

The council had been asked to rule on the case of Ahmed Sahnouni, a Moroccan-born man naturalised in 2003, who was convicted and given a seven-year prison sentence in March 2013 for "association with criminals in relation to a terrorist plot".

The Guardian

Yemen says it has foiled an al-Qaida plot to blow up oil pipelines and seize some of the country's main ports, but security remains tight and hundreds of armoured vehicles have been deployed to protect key targets.

The Guardian

The French president is also set to resume his cooling relationship with German chancellor Angela Merkel as the two plot to make the real decisions, in a private meeting today, about how to save the euro.

The Guardian - Business

Whereas this film is about Spartacus, but does not have that plot.

The Guardian - Film

Let that sink in for one second While the plot moves at breakneck speed through betrayal, blackmail, murder attempts and sex tapes, the script of The Royals is packed full of lines made for social media.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But when he stands up we can see he's in some sort of loose straitjacket and he's losing the plot again.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, a big supporter, has already railed against what he sees as a US plot and Blatter retains widespread support in Africa and parts of Asia.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "plot" to mean a piece of land, ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion with narrative plots.

Common error

Avoid using "plot" without clear context, especially if your audience may confuse the narrative sense with the sense referring to land. Rephrase for clarity, for instance, using "storyline" or "piece of land" where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "plot" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the sequence of events in a story or a piece of land. As a verb, it means to plan or scheme, as Ludwig AI explains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "plot" is a versatile term with multiple meanings, serving as both a noun and a verb. It commonly refers to the sequence of events in a story, a secret scheme, or a piece of land. As per Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used. It appears frequently in news and media, as well as in formal and business contexts. Related phrases include "storyline", "conspiracy", and "scheme". When using "plot", ensure clarity to avoid confusing its various senses. For example, specify "storyline" if the intent is to refer to a movie's plot.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

storyline

Refers specifically to the sequence of events in a narrative.

conspiracy

Implies a secret plan, usually with malicious intent.

scheme

Suggests a carefully arranged plan, often for achieving a specific goal.

secret plan

Emphasizes the hidden nature of the plan.

trace

To follow the course or development of something

chart

To make a map

design

To plan and fashion artistically or skillfully.

machination

Suggests clever or deceitful planning.

the lie of the land

The position in which something stands.

the main events

The primary progression in a chain of occurrences.

FAQs

How can I use "plot" in a sentence?

You can use "plot" to refer to the sequence of events in a story, as in "The plot of the movie was complex". It can also refer to a piece of land, such as "They bought a plot of land to build a house".

What are some synonyms for "plot" when referring to a story?

Alternatives include "storyline", "narrative", or "sequence of events".

What's the difference between "plot" and "story"?

"Story" is a broader term encompassing all the events and characters, while "plot" specifically refers to the sequence and structure of those events.

Is it correct to use "plot" to describe a conspiracy?

Yes, "plot" can refer to a secret plan or conspiracy, especially when the plan is illegal or questionable. For example, "They uncovered a plot to overthrow the government".