sources of drinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sources of drinking" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to places or means through which one obtains drinks, but it lacks clarity and specificity. Example: "The report examined various sources of drinking, including bars, restaurants, and home consumption."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

America's lakes and estuaries are major sources of drinking water and vital economic generators through tourism.

The New York Times

It is vital for groundwater, and sources of drinking water, to be properly protected".

The Guardian

They are similar to restrictions New York State enforces near its sources of drinking water in rural areas upstate.

The New York Times

And in urban areas, particularly slums, obtaining water — especially safe sources of drinking water — can be a constant struggle.

The New York Times

Most face increased flooding and problems like shoreline erosion and saltwater intrusion into sources of drinking water.

The New York Times

More than half of the country's rivers are too polluted to serve as sources of drinking water, and its biggest lakes regularly succumb to harmful algal blooms.

The New York Times

It is the artificial lake responsible for feeding the numerous stepwells of Bundi: once sources of drinking water, but now struggling with a need for sanitation.

The Guardian - Travel

This will include measures designed specifically to tackle the climate change impact of shale gas, and forcing shale gas companies to protect sources of drinking water," it said.

The Guardian

But atrazine often washes into water supplies and has become among the most common contaminants in American reservoirs and other sources of drinking water.

The New York Times

staffer, is trying to get the city government to think about its maximum sustainable population and its future sources of drinking water.

The New Yorker

Are regulations in place to make sure the industry extracts the gas as safely as possible and that underground sources of drinking water are protected?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing where water comes from for drinking, prefer clearer and more widely accepted alternatives like "drinking water sources" or "potable water sources".

Common error

Don't use the phrase "sources of drinking" as it is less common and can sound awkward. Instead, opt for more standard terms that clearly convey the meaning of places or systems that provide drinking water.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sources of drinking" acts as a noun phrase, identifying the origin or supply of water intended for consumption. Although Ludwig AI states the phrase is not correct, the numerous examples found suggest it is used, albeit less commonly than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "sources of drinking" is widely used, it is considered grammatically questionable. It functions as a noun phrase to identify the origins of potable water and is used across news, science, and formal contexts. While Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is "not correct", many real-world examples show it in use. For improved clarity and wider acceptance, it is advisable to favor alternatives like "drinking water sources" or "potable water sources".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drinking water sources

Reverses the order of the words for slightly different emphasis, but meaning remains almost identical.

potable water sources

Substitutes "drinking" with "potable", indicating water that is safe to drink.

water sources for consumption

Rephrases to clarify the purpose of the water sources being for consumption.

sources of potable water

Replaces "drinking" with "potable" and inverts word order compared to main query.

freshwater sources for drinking

Specifies "freshwater", limiting the sources to non-saline water suitable for drinking.

safe drinking water sources

Emphasizes the safety aspect of drinking water sources.

water supply sources for human consumption

More elaborately specifies that water is supplied and intended for human use.

origins of drinking water

Shifts focus to the point of origin of the water, rather than the source itself.

domestic water sources

Refers to water sources used within a household or community.

community drinking water supplies

Focuses on the supply aspect, suggesting a managed system for providing drinking water to a community.

FAQs

What are common synonyms for "sources of drinking"?

While "sources of drinking" is understandable, better alternatives include "drinking water sources", "potable water sources", or simply "water sources" when the context makes it clear the water is for drinking.

Is it grammatically correct to say "sources of drinking"?

While the phrase isn't strictly ungrammatical, it's not the most idiomatic choice. A more common and natural phrasing would be "drinking water sources".

What is the difference between "sources of drinking water" and "drinking water sources"?

The phrase "sources of drinking water" implies you're discussing the sources that provide water specifically meant for drinking, while "drinking water sources" is simply more concise and commonly used.

In what contexts is it acceptable to use the phrase "sources of drinking"?

Although the phrase is interpretable and used in various sources, it is better to opt for alternatives like "drinking water sources" or "potable water sources" to avoid ambiguity.