the items accumulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the items accumulate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where items are gathering or increasing in number over time. Example: "As the days passed, the items accumulate in the corner of the room, creating a cluttered mess."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many food items accumulate perchlorate from contaminated soil and water (Yu et al. 2004), and human biomonitoring data have demonstrated widespread exposures attributed to dietary sources [ Blount et al. 2006b; El Aribi et al. 2006; Food and Drug Administration FDAA) 2009; Valentin-Blasini et al. 2005].

Environmental Health Perspectives

In a three-day auction that begins on Monday, more than 8,000 items accumulated by the toothy, caftan-clad Mr. Duquette will be sold at Christie's in Los Angeles.

The New York Times

Thousands of items accumulated over the past 25 years were dumped into a steel crusher at the National Wildlife Property Repository north of Denver.

BBC

A small pile of "Don't forget to pack!" items accumulating by the back door serves as a startling reminder that I have less than a week to tie up a few loose parenting ends before I send him out into the wide blue yonder we refer to as The Real World.. 1.

Huffington Post

In Gloucestershire, Howe sought to transform what its owner describes as a "very Colefax and Fowler" country cottage — four large rooms covered in timber cladding and bisected by a staircase — into an altogether unique and unpretentious family retreat, filled with a variety of worn items, accumulated organically.

The New York Times

West Virginia entrepreneur Robert Kiblinger has a thriving business selling castles, characters and other items accumulated by players on games like Ultima Online.

Forbes

They sustain similar delays of gratification when presented with food items accumulating at regular time intervals [41], [42].

Plosone

DIDL consists of 36 items accumulated into 5 scales, i.e., comfort, appearance, pain, performance and, eating restriction.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

One collector, Jerry Mez, for instance, decided to create a museum with the items he accumulated, Farmall-Land, in Avoca, Iowa.

The New York Times

The items to be accumulated under this heading are the reimbursements and other payments from the Federal Government which are made to the institution to support solely, specifically, and directly, in whole or in part, any of the administrative or service activities described in subsections 2 through 9. b.

Cornell University

Pro Tip: "Clearing out the entire garage gives you an opportunity to see the items you have accumulated," says Bowman.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "the items accumulate", ensure that the context clearly indicates what kind of items are being discussed and the process by which they are gathering or increasing. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "the items accumulate" in contexts where the nature of the items is vague or undefined. This can lead to confusion. Provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the items accumulate" functions as a subject-verb construction, where "items" is the subject and "accumulate" is the verb. According to Ludwig, this expression is correct and describes a process of gathering or increasing.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the items accumulate" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe a process where objects or things are gathering or increasing in number over time. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English. Given the lack of examples and varied potential contexts, it is important to ensure clarity by specifying the type of items and the accumulation process. Using alternatives such as "the materials accumulate" or specifying a different verb like "gather" can also enhance precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the materials accumulate

Uses 'materials' instead of 'items', focusing on physical substances, and retains 'accumulate' for direct similarity.

the supplies accumulate

Substitutes 'items' with 'supplies', implying resources or provisions, while maintaining 'accumulate'.

the goods accumulate

Replaces 'items' with 'goods', suggesting merchandise or commodities, and keeps 'accumulate' for consistency.

the articles pile up

Replaces 'items' with 'articles' and uses 'pile up' to emphasize a growing heap.

the objects amass

Substitutes 'items' with 'objects' and uses 'amass' to denote a gradual accumulation, often of a considerable quantity.

the things gather

Replaces 'items' with 'things' and uses 'gather' to suggest a coming together in one place.

the units collect

Replaces 'items' with 'units' which is useful in technical context and uses 'collect' to mean to gather together.

the components build up

Replaces 'items' with 'components' emphasizing parts of a larger whole, and uses 'build up' to indicate a gradual increase.

the effects accumulate

Substitutes 'items' with 'effects' which focus is not on the physical objects, but on consequences.

the elements accrue

Replaces 'items' with 'elements' and employs 'accrue' to suggest a gradual accumulation over time, often with an element of chance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "the items accumulate" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "the articles amass" or "the materials accrue". These options use more sophisticated vocabulary.

What verbs are similar to "accumulate" in "the items accumulate"?

Similar verbs include "pile up", "gather", "collect", and "build up". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "the items accumulate" suitable for academic writing?

Yes, "the items accumulate" is grammatically correct and can be suitable for academic writing, but consider more precise synonyms depending on the subject matter. For instance, if you are describing the results of tests you can use something like "the data points accumulate".

What are some common nouns that can replace "items" in "the items accumulate"?

Common nouns include "materials", "supplies", "goods", "articles", "objects", and "units". The most appropriate noun will depend on the specific situation.