separately or collectively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "separately or collectively" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing options for actions or considerations that can be taken individually or as a group. Example: "The committee can evaluate the proposals separately or collectively to determine the best course of action."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The data tables are in.xls format and are downloadable either separately or collectively in a.zip file.

Cornell University

Tables are in.xls format and downloadable either separately or collectively as a.zip file.

Cornell University

Sections of these highlands also are known separately or collectively as the Geral Mountains.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You can play the same song across the house, or something different in every room; you can control the volume separately or collectively as well.

The New York Times

— DAVID LEONHARDT Republicans seem to have decided, separately or collectively, to praise President Obama's decision to authorize the mission that killed Osama bin Laden — before criticizing Mr. Obama on nearly everything else.

The New York Times

When Dulles spoke, he said, among other things, "There is no reason to believe that any totalitarian states, separately or collectively would attempt to attack the U. S. or could do so successfully... .. View Article By Miranda Carter By Amos Barshad By John Cassidy By Emily Nussbaum By George Packer By Miranda Carter By Amos Barshad By John Cassidy By Emily Nussbaum.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Measured individually or collectively, what, exactly, is the difference?

The New York Times - Sports

How have these jobs, individually or collectively, influenced your writing?

The New Yorker

Symbolic gestures may be either individually or collectively performed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These factors are observed to function either individually or collectively at different development stages.

Journal of Transport Geography

Is knowledge generated individually or collectively?

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "separately or collectively" to clearly indicate that options or actions can be considered both individually and as a group, ensuring comprehensive coverage of possibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "separately or collectively" in situations where the context already implies both individual and group consideration. Simpler phrasing might be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "separately or collectively" functions as an adverbial phrase or a conjunctive adverb, modifying a verb or clause by indicating the manner in which actions can be performed or things can be considered. Ludwig examples show it clarifies whether items are handled individually or as a group.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

30%

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "separately or collectively" serves to clarify that options or actions can be considered both individually and as a group. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and applicability across diverse contexts like academia, news, and science. While alternatives exist, such as "individually or as a group", "alone or together", and "independently or in combination", "separately or collectively" provides a versatile means of ensuring comprehensive consideration. The key is to avoid overuse in simplistic sentences where its meaning is already implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individually or as a group

Focuses more explicitly on the contrast between individual and group action.

on their own or jointly

Highlights the independence or shared nature of the action.

singly or in combination

Emphasizes the numerical aspect of individual versus combined entities.

independently or in concert

Suggests a more coordinated effort when done collectively.

alone or together

A simpler and more informal way to express the same idea.

discretely or as a whole

Emphasizes the distinctness or unified nature of the entities.

severally or jointly

A more formal and legalistic way to express individual versus combined responsibility.

by itself or in aggregate

Highlights the singular or combined data or information.

one by one or all at once

Focuses on the timing of the action, whether sequential or simultaneous.

personally or communally

Emphasizes the distinction between individual and group ownership or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "separately or collectively" in a sentence?

Use "separately or collectively" to indicate that items, ideas, or actions can be considered individually or as a single unit. For example, "The data can be analyzed "separately or collectively" to identify trends."

What is a good alternative to "separately or collectively"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "individually or as a group", "alone or together", or "independently or in combination".

Is it redundant to use "separately and collectively"?

While "separately and collectively" isn't grammatically incorrect, it can sometimes be redundant. "Separately or collectively" is generally sufficient to cover both possibilities.

When is it appropriate to use "separately or collectively" in formal writing?

It's appropriate when you need to explicitly state that items or options can be considered both on their own and as a whole, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness. Using alternatives such as "severally or jointly" might be appropriate for formal writing, especially in legal or business contexts.