singly and collectively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "singly and collectively" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals acting alone as well as a group acting together. Example: "The committee members are responsible for the project, both singly and collectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

All of them behaved, singly and collectively, with studied eccentricity.

Independent

Add to this bloat the sloppy, cliché-ridden and hyperbolic writing common to instant books, and the effect of these volumes, singly and collectively, is stupefying.

The New York Times - Books

The premise of the Pokémon series is this: You are a boy or girl wandering through the world trying to catch as many of several hundred elusive creatures, known singly and collectively as Pokémon, as you can.

The New York Times - Arts

"Singly and collectively," these events were either irrelevant or innocuous and were "insufficient to give rise to reasonable suspicion," the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said in granting the motion filed by the driver, Ralph Arvizu, to suppress the evidence.

The New York Times

Singly and collectively he shot them down: the power-crazed politicians, the Hindutva fanatics, the "barbaric" mullahs of Pakistan, empty-headed Bollywood stars, commercialised cricket, modern cricket fans with their bugles and firecrackers, and the bare-bottomed defecators who lined city avenues in the mornings.

The Economist

For this and other reasons, I'm thinking it might be time for leaders of Latino business organizations to ask whether it makes sense to launch an umbrella organization -- let's call it a federation -- that represents their interests both singly and collectively.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Individually and collectively, the Shahids bewitch her.

The New York Times - Books

Individually and collectively they were top drawer".

BBC

Especially interesting is this quote: "many governments (including the Danish, French and Spanish governments singly and the EU collectively) specifically affirmed that "open standards" required royalty-free [patent] licenses". When will the BBC specifically affirm that "open standards" at the BBC means royalty-free patent licenses?

BBC

The remaining results suggest that diet, as represented by our composite score, does not appreciably modify the effects of several loci, singly or collectively, on BMI and BMI-adjusted WHR.

Human Molecular Genetics

Note: Returns for those filing singly and those filing jointly or in other categories are lumped together.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "singly and collectively" when you want to emphasize that something applies both to individuals acting alone and to a group acting together, ensuring clarity and thoroughness in your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "singly and collectively" in very informal contexts. Simpler phrases like "individually and as a group" or "alone and together" may be more appropriate for casual communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "singly and collectively" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying that an action or responsibility applies both to individuals acting alone and to the group as a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "singly and collectively" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that emphasizes individual and group responsibility or action. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, remember that it is more formal than many alternatives and is best suited for professional or academic contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and scientific sources, the phrase serves to clarify the scope of an action, ensuring accountability at both the individual and group levels. For less formal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "individually and as a group" or "alone and together".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individually and as a group

This alternative focuses on the distinction between individual action and group action. Similarity is high because it captures both aspects of QUERY.

alone and together

This alternative is more concise, emphasizing the contrast between solitary and joint action. It's simpler but retains the core meaning of QUERY.

on an individual and group basis

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the specific basis for consideration. It adds a level of formality while keeping a high similarity.

separately and jointly

This alternative uses synonyms for "singly" and "collectively", making it a good semantic match. Separately/Jointly emphasizes the process rather than the actors.

one by one and all together

This alternative clearly illustrates the two distinct modes of action. However the tone is less formal, so a slightly reduced similarity.

by oneself and as a whole

This alternative highlights the contrast between individual effort and collective entity. It adds a more holistic feel but has a slightly less common structure.

in isolation and in concert

This alternative is a bit more metaphorical, suggesting actions performed alone versus those performed harmoniously. A lower similarity.

as individuals and as a team

This alternative is highly specific to group activity and teamwork, reducing its broader applicability compared to QUERY.

personally and as a community

This alternative introduces a communal aspect, shifting from a general grouping to a more socially connected one. This can be very context dependent.

independently and in unison

This alternative emphasizes independence and coordinated action, changing the focus slightly to the manner of acting. This is quite context dependent.

FAQs

What does "singly and collectively" mean?

The phrase "singly and collectively" refers to considering or acting both individually and as a group. It emphasizes that each person or entity is responsible on their own and as part of a larger unit.

How can I use "singly and collectively" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team members are accountable, "individually and as a group", for the project's success," meaning everyone is responsible both for their own tasks and for the overall outcome.

What are some alternatives to "singly and collectively"?

Some alternatives include "individually and as a group", "alone and together", or "separately and jointly", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is there a difference between "individually and collectively" and "singly and collectively"?

While both phrases convey the same core meaning, "singly and collectively" is slightly more formal and less common than "individually and collectively". The choice depends on the tone and register of your writing.