ship

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ship' is correct and used in written English.
You can use the word 'ship' when referring to a large vessel that transports goods or passengers. For example, "The cruise ship set sail on a seven day journey to the Mediterranean".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think the ray of light is that there is now an undertaking by government lawyers so that people on board the ship will be taken to a detention centre in the next couple of days," she said.

The Guardian

My parents met on a ship.

The New York Times

In a letter handed out by activists to managers at each Shell station, John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, wrote: "28 activists and two journalists remain in detention after the seizure of our ship Arctic Sunrise by armed Russian Federal Security Bureau agents.

The Guardian

One of the most poignant images conjured in the collective consciousness from the sinking of the Titanic is that of the band continuing to play while the ship went down.

The Guardian - Opinion

He's about to go down with the ship, don't tell him he has to keep reading the sheet music.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now, every time the master branch is tagged vN.NN a new version will automatically ship.

The Guardian

As well as whalers' harpoons, whales must navigate the dangers of ship strikes, entanglements in shipping nets and other ocean apparatus, disorientating man-made ocean noises, habitat destruction, resource exploitation, climate change and pollution.

The Guardian

But while locals that are savvy enough to jump ship can prosper, those wedded to the traditional pastoral life are pushed into deep poverty.

The Guardian

We stand together, carried along by the same planet, the crew of a single ship.

The Guardian - Books

The ship was carrying 1,150 tonnes of fish, but had only 50 tonnes of fuel, Velmeskin said.

The Guardian

The high number of casualties raised speculation that the ship had been overcrowded and possibly did not have enough safety equipment for everyone on board.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to romantic relationships, use "ship" in informal settings or online discussions.

Common error

Avoid using "ship" to describe physical transportation in formal documents when more precise terms like "transport" or "deliver" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ship" is as a noun, referring to a waterborne vessel. It also functions as a verb, meaning to transport goods. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and frequently used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "ship" is a versatile term with primary functions as a noun and a verb. As a noun, it denotes a large watercraft, and as a verb, it means to transport goods. The term is frequently used in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. According to Ludwig AI, "ship" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English. When using "ship", it is important to consider the context, especially when referring to fictional relationships, to avoid confusion. Overall, "ship" is a valuable word in the English language, offering multiple meanings and applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vessel

Replaces "ship" with a more general term for a watercraft.

boat

A smaller type of watercraft, suitable for some contexts.

watercraft

A broad term encompassing various vehicles that travel on water.

shipping

Focuses on the action of transporting goods, rather than the vessel itself.

send

Replaces the verb "ship" with a more generic term for sending goods.

transport

Emphasizes the act of moving something from one place to another.

support

In the context of "shipping" a relationship, this focuses on endorsing it.

endorse

Similar to 'support', indicating approval of a relationship.

craft

Another general term for a vessel.

airplane

Referring to the spaceship definition.

FAQs

How can I use "ship" in a sentence?

You can use "ship" to refer to a large vessel, as in "The cargo ship arrived at the port", or to express support for a romantic pairing, as in "I ship those two characters in the show".

What can I say instead of "ship" when referring to transportation?

Alternatives include "vessel", "boat", or "watercraft", depending on the size and type of the craft.

Which is correct, "ship" or "boat"?

"Ship" and "boat" are both correct, but they refer to different sizes of watercraft. A "ship" is generally larger than a "boat".

What does it mean to "ship" two characters in a fictional context?

To "ship" two characters means to support or approve of a romantic relationship between them. It's a term commonly used in fandom and online discussions.