team

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "team" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a group of individuals working together towards a common goal or purpose. Example: "Our team has been working diligently to meet the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neil Craig, head of operations for HSE in the Midlands, said that a specialist team of inspectors were at the scene in Staffordshire making inquiries.

The Guardian

She has no compunction in moving Labour beyond our comfort zone and is determined to build a team ready to chart a route forward".

The Guardian

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.

The Guardian - Sport

Jeff Carter scored in the opening minute of the second and third periods for the Kings, who became the first road team to win in the series.

The New York Times - Sports

In the cycling sense, "nervous" refers to a vicious spiral in which the entire peloton is aware that the safest place to be is in the front 20 or so – this is a basic racing principle taught at junior level – with the upshot that every team leader with a purpose wants to be in the first 20 riders with as many of their team-mates as can manage it.

The Guardian - Sport

He was also the GB men's Olympic coach for the Sydney 2000 team.

The Guardian - Sport

You can follow all the scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with the new free-to-downloadWhoScored iOS app Follow WhoScored on Twitter and Facebook Follow Guardian Football on Facebook.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm part of a team, not acting as an individual".

The Guardian

"This is a team.

The New York Times

Derided as a buffoonish figure of fun for attempting to keep dry while his England team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, McClaren is currently attracting far less media attention for steering Derby County to fourth from 14th in the Championship after a run of just two defeats in 15 matches since he replaced Nigel Clough in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Hungary did not rack up the biggest win in World Cup history because El Salvador were the worst team ever to reach the finals; rather, they were the happy beneficiaries of a monumentally ill-conceived tactical plan.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "team" to emphasize collaboration and shared goals among a group of people. For instance, "The project's success hinged on the team's cohesive effort".

Common error

Be mindful of whether you treat "team" as a singular or plural noun. In American English, it's typically singular (e.g., "The team is playing well"), whereas in British English, it can be plural (e.g., "The team are playing well"). Ensure consistency within your writing.

Linguistic Context

The word "team" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. Examples from Ludwig, such as "a specialist team of inspectors" and "build a team ready to chart a route forward", illustrate its use in describing specific groups organized for a particular purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sports

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "team" is a versatile noun frequently used to describe a group of individuals working collaboratively towards a shared goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts, including news, sports, and business. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. While "team" is commonly used, remember to maintain consistency in your writing, especially when considering singular or plural agreement. Synonyms like "group" or "squad" can provide variety, but "team" is particularly effective when emphasizing collaboration and shared purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

group

Refers to a collection of individuals, similar to a "team" but may lack the structured organization.

squad

Implies a smaller, more tightly-knit "team", often used in sports or military contexts.

crew

Suggests a group working together on a specific task or operation, often in nautical or aviation settings.

unit

Indicates a cohesive group functioning as a single entity, typically within a larger organization.

company

Can refer to a group of people working together in a business or organization.

ensemble

Often used for a group of performers, such as musicians or actors, working together.

party

Implies a group of people with shared interests or affiliations, such as a political party.

band

Suggests a group with a shared purpose or activity, often used for musicians or outlaws.

organization

A structured group of people working together to achieve specific goals.

alliance

Indicates a formal agreement between groups or individuals for mutual benefit.

FAQs

How can I use "team" in a sentence?

You can use "team" to describe a group of people working together, such as "Our team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service" or "The sports team won the championship this year."

What are some synonyms for "team"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "group", "squad", "unit", or "crew".

Is it correct to say "team is" or "team are"?

In American English, it's generally "team is" because "team" is treated as a singular collective noun. In British English, "team are" is also acceptable, treating "team" as plural when referring to the individual members. Always maintain consistency within your writing.

What is the difference between "team" and "group"?

"Team" implies a structured group of people working towards a specific goal, often with defined roles and responsibilities. "Group" is a more general term for any collection of people or things, without necessarily implying a shared purpose or structure.