supplies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supplies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to materials or resources needed for a particular purpose, such as in a business, educational, or personal context. Example: "We need to order more supplies for the upcoming project to ensure we have everything we need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Outside on the pavement, they had plentiful supplies of broccoli, potatoes and other vegetables and a supermarket trolley piled high with rucksacks, a couple of guitars and a dog named Zeus.

The Guardian

The British peer said the UN Relief and Works Agency had only a finite amount of food and other essential supplies, adding: "We were concerned that over time supplies were running out," prompting the agency and other UN agencies to launch an appeal to get more resources into the area.

The Guardian

As a result, aid agencies such as Unicef have forged links with foreign producers better able to produce these supplies at the scale, cost and quality required.

The Guardian

Some birds of prey also thrived on grouse moors because of these plentiful food supplies: merlin were four times more numerous on grouse moors than in other locations (although this may be because, unlike hen harriers, they are too small to kill grouse).

The Guardian

Energy supplies and debt owed on gas already supplied were used by the Russians to try to get the government in Belgrade to move ahead on Southstream, according to sources in Belgrade.

The Guardian

Hungary and Serbia are also said to have agreed to store large volumes of Russian gas, securing supplies for themselves should a recent Moscow-Kiev-EU agreement on energy provision and payments break down this winter and also enabling Moscow to maintain some supplies to Europe without pumping via Ukraine.

The Guardian

They rely on Russia for their energy supplies.

The Guardian

In 1986, Gloria Steinem wrote that if men got periods, they "would brag about how long and how much": that boys would talk about their menstruation as the beginning of their manhood, that there would be "gifts, religious ceremonies" and sanitary supplies would be "federally funded and free".

The Guardian - Opinion

About 80% of Lagos's piped water supplies are thought to be stolen, only 5% of people receive it in their houses, taps are often dry, sanitation is non-existent across much of the metropolis and the hospitals are full of people suffering diarrheal and other water-borne diseases.

The Guardian

The simplest syrup comes from Butcher, who, although she also gives a more conventional recipe, informs me that originally these pastries would have been made with honey or date syrup, and supplies a version that uses these, melted in water.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

China needs ever-increasing supplies of food and raw material, and markets for its manufactures.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing essential items for a project or task, use "supplies" to convey the idea of readily available resources. For example, "Ensure you have enough art "supplies" before starting the painting."

Common error

Be mindful of the singular vs. plural form. "Supply" refers to the act of providing, while "supplies" refers to the items themselves. Using "supply" when you mean "supplies" can confuse your readers. For example, instead of writing "The office needs more paper supply", write "The office needs more paper "supplies"."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "supplies" is as a plural noun, referring to items or resources that are needed for a particular activity or purpose. Ludwig AI examples show it being used to denote necessities ranging from food and water to military equipment and energy resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "supplies" functions primarily as a plural noun, denoting items or resources necessary for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that "supplies" is grammatically correct and very commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. The term is characterized by a neutral register and can be effectively substituted with "provisions", "resources", or "materials" depending on the specific context. Remember to use "supplies" as a plural noun to refer to the items themselves, and avoid confusing it with the singular form "supply", which denotes the act of providing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provisions

A more formal synonym referring to a stock of needed materials or food.

resources

Broader term encompassing materials, money, or personnel needed for a task.

materials

Specifically refers to items needed for a particular task or project.

equipment

Focuses on the tools and machinery necessary for a specific purpose.

stockpile

Emphasizes a large accumulation of goods or materials.

inventory

Refers to a complete list of items such as property, goods in stock, or the contents of a building.

reserves

Implies a quantity of something available for future use.

stores

General term for items kept for future use or sale.

commodities

Goods or products that can be bought or sold.

furnishings

Refers to the furniture and other decorative items in a room or building.

FAQs

How do I use "supplies" in a sentence?

Use "supplies" to refer to items or resources needed for a specific purpose. For example, "We need to order more office "supplies" for the new quarter."

What are some synonyms for "supplies"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "provisions", "resources", or "materials" as alternatives to "supplies".

Is "supplies" a singular or plural noun?

"Supplies" is a plural noun. The singular form is "supply", which refers to the act of providing something.

What's the difference between "supplies" and "equipment"?

"Supplies" generally refer to consumable or replenishable items, while "equipment" refers to tools or machinery used for a specific purpose. For example, paint and brushes are "supplies", while a painter's ladder is "equipment".