things of use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things of use" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items or objects that have practical utility or functionality. Example: "In the garage, I found several old tools and other things of use that I had forgotten about."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

You can see how roughly things of use were hacked out of wood and leather, and wince at an eye-watering penile catheter.

The Guardian - Arts

The use of research was important in the utopian society; there was another group who would contribute by: ' looking into the experiments of their fellows, and cast about how to draw out of them things of use and practice for man's life and knowledge'.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The 222-page paper accused Microsoft, among other things, of using its dominance in operating systems to force PC makers to take Microsoft's browser.

The New York Times

Mr. Walker, a 19-year-old student, is accused, among other things, of using his roommate's computer to communicate with -- and offer aid to -- a federally designated terrorist group in Somalia and with helping to run a jihadist Web site.

The New York Times

Bentley is accused, among other things, of using state resources for personal matters and for using campaign cash to pay for Mason's legal fees.

Huffington Post

Mugabe accused his former ally, among other things, of using witchcraft to determine when the 93-year-old president would finally drop dead.

Vice

Calabrese and Baldwin (2003a) also evaluated data from NTP dose-ranging studies and noted these have the advantage, among other things, of using five dosing points per testing.

Environmental Health Perspectives

As to the "art" part of "visual art", this is also questionable, given that architecture is a thing of use.

The Guardian - Arts

His face lit up at seeing the huge television and games console, but he soon realised that the only thing of use was the power cord, for securing a door.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Cotton buds: the things most of us use to sort our ears out.

Vice

The good thing of using this prefix address is to make the MN feel always that the entire PMIPv6 domain is a home network and can get its home-of-addresses (HoA) on any access network.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collections of items with diverse functions, use "things of use" to broadly encompass their utility without specifying individual purposes.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "things of use" can sound slightly informal. In academic or professional writing, consider stronger alternatives like "useful resources" or "practical implements" to convey a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things of use" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to items or objects that have practical utility or functionality. Ludwig AI validates that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "things of use" is a grammatically correct noun phrase that refers to items with practical utility. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is indeed correct. While its frequency is rare, it finds application across various contexts, including news and media, and science. When aiming for a more sophisticated tone, especially in formal writing, alternatives like "useful resources" or "practical implements" might be more suitable. The phrase is generally neutral and serves the purpose of identifying items based on their utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

useful items

Focuses directly on the characteristic of being useful, removing the prepositional phrase structure.

practical objects

Emphasizes the practicality of the items, using a more direct adjective-noun structure.

functional things

Highlights the functionality of the items, focusing on their ability to perform a task.

serviceable items

Implies a degree of durability and fitness for purpose.

advantageous assets

Shifts the focus to the benefit provided by these items, framing them as assets.

helpful tools

Narrows the scope to tools specifically, emphasizing their role in aiding tasks.

valuable resources

Frames the items as resources, highlighting their inherent worth and potential for use.

instruments of utility

Uses a more formal and abstract phrasing, emphasizing the concept of utility.

implements for use

Focuses on the action of using, rather than the inherent quality of the items.

expedient contrivances

Suggests items designed for a specific, immediate purpose, often implying ingenuity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "things of use" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "useful resources", "practical implements", or "valuable assets". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "thing of use" grammatically correct, or should it always be plural?

While "things of use" is more common, "thing of use" is also grammatically correct when referring to a single item. For example: "The only "thing of use" was the power cord."

What is the difference between "things of use" and "useful things"?

"Useful things" is a more direct and common phrasing. "Things of use" emphasizes the intended purpose and can sometimes add a slightly more descriptive or reflective tone.

In what situations is it best to use the phrase "things of use"?

The phrase "things of use" is suitable in scenarios where you want to generally refer to items that serve a practical purpose, especially when discussing their utility in a broader sense. In other cases it's better to choose more specific vocabulary.