sundry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sundry" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to various or diverse items or people, often in a collective sense. Example: "The store sells sundry items, from groceries to household goods."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In London, galleries in Chelsea allow in all and sundry for their openings and give you wine while you gaze at conceptual art.

The Guardian - Travel

If the interview has gone well, you will see them tucking into great slabs of fresh cream cake, their coats flung carelessly across the tables, wishing fellow diners good morning and engaging in casual conversation with all and sundry, including the Albanian waiters.

The Guardian

Launching the proposals at a Belfast news conference - the party put them to Tony Blair in London yesterday - Mr Paisley said they had been told by all and sundry there was no alternative to the Good Friday agreement, no Plan B and that the agreement could not be negotiated.

The Guardian

Bone broth, made by boiling bones, meat and sundry herbs and spices for up to 48 hours, is essentially stock, but made fashionable in the US by being sold in cups from New York's Brodo and Portland's Jola Cafe, among others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are shelves laden with large packets of pasta, boxes of tea bags and enough sundry staples to see out a sustained siege.

The Guardian

James, victim of the Wapping wild lands, has to make do with TV, movies, videos and sundry digital wonders.

The Guardian

Trying to find somewhere to squat that doesn't reveal my nether regions to all and sundry is the bane of my life.

The Guardian

Not just civilian cinéastes, journalists and sundry nudniks, but "industry people" too directors, producers and other film-makers, but most importantly, buyers: executive producers and distributors, even hedge-fund investors.

The Economist

But instead of measuring cornering forces and suspension movement they look at wind speed, yaw, rudder angles and sundry other factors that affect the performance of a racing yacht or dinghy.

The Economist

He might have added Mexico, had its drugs scandal erupted a little earlier; and, when he did not, the lower house of Congress, happy to do the president's work for him, blithely passed a resolution requiring that the Mexicans too be decertified unless they met sundry tests of anti-drug virtue written by itself.

The Economist

Terrorism, especially a recent wave of it perpetrated by recalcitrant Somalis and sundry Islamist extremists, must be contained.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sundry", ensure the context clearly indicates that you're referring to a variety of different items or people, avoiding vagueness.

Common error

While "sundry" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can sound archaic. Instead, opt for more precise and modern synonyms like "various", "diverse", or "miscellaneous" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The word "sundry" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a collection of different items or people. It's often used to suggest a diverse or miscellaneous assortment, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples where "sundry" appears before nouns like "staples", "herbs", and "officials".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "sundry" is a grammatically sound adjective used to denote a collection of different items or people. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely employed in news and media contexts, holding a slightly formal tone. When aiming for clarity and modernity, especially in formal pieces, alternatives like "various", "diverse", or "miscellaneous" might be preferable. Common usage includes phrases like "all and sundry", indicating everyone. Understanding its semantic nuances ensures effective communication across various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

various

Indicates a range of different items or people, similar to "sundry" but more commonly used.

assorted

Implies a collection of different items of a similar type, slightly narrower in scope than "sundry".

miscellaneous

Refers to a collection of diverse items, similar to "sundry", but emphasizes the lack of a clear category.

diverse

Highlights the variety and dissimilarity of items, akin to one aspect of "sundry".

varied

Emphasizes the range of different items or qualities, similar to "various" and therefore "sundry".

mixed

Suggests a combination of different elements, which is a component of the meaning of "sundry".

motley

Implies a diverse and often disorganized collection, carrying a slightly more negative connotation than "sundry".

heterogeneous

Formally describes a collection of dissimilar elements, sharing the diversity aspect of "sundry".

sundry other

Focuses on additional unmentioned items, which is a common use case of "sundry".

an array of

Indicates a broad and diverse collection, similar to the expansive meaning of "sundry".

FAQs

How can I use "sundry" in a sentence?

You can use "sundry" to describe a collection of different items or people. For example, "The shop sells "various" items including books and clothing" or "Diverse people attended the event".

What can I say instead of "sundry"?

You can use alternatives like ""various"", "miscellaneous", or "diverse" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "sundry" or "various"?

The choice between "sundry" and ""various"" depends on the desired tone. "Sundry" can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned. "Various" is generally more common and neutral.

What does "all and sundry" mean?

"All and sundry" means everyone; all people, which is used in sentences like 'The information was available to "everyone"'.