to be collected

USAGE SUMMARY

"to be collected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that will be acquired or gathered in the future, such as a debt, package, or items. Example: The books are ready to be collected at the front desk.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Data continues to be collected".

The Guardian - Tech

This is talent waiting to be collected.

The Guardian

"Evidence had to be collected," says Catherine.

The Guardian

There are many more to be collected.

The Guardian

Nothing was left to be collected.

The Guardian - Tech

Material had to be collected first.

Yale University

It takes time for data to be collected.

The Guardian - Opinion

And money was not to be collected at holiday time.

The New York Times

The recipes are to be collected and published in books.

The New York Times

2- Accounts of debts to be collected and received.

Cornell University

How did Armstrong memorabilia come to be collected in Sweden?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be collected", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being gathered and from where. This avoids ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Overusing passive constructions like "to be collected" can make your writing sound vague. Whenever possible, specify the actor performing the collection to make your sentences more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "Data is to be collected", try "Researchers will collect the data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be collected" functions as a passive infinitive, indicating an action that will be performed on a subject. As shown in the examples provided by Ludwig, it indicates the state of something being gathered or acquired. It signals anticipation and future action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to be collected" is a versatile phrase used to describe a future action of gathering or acquiring something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various fields. Its prevalence in news, scientific research, and formal business contexts highlights its wide applicability. While the phrase is generally neutral to professional, writers should be mindful of overusing passive voice and consider more direct alternatives when appropriate. Be mindful to specify the actor to prevent vagueness and use active voice to improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be gathered

Emphasizes the act of bringing things together from different places.

to be accumulated

Highlights a gradual increase or build-up over time.

to be assembled

Suggests the process of putting individual parts together to form a whole.

to be compiled

Focuses on collecting and organizing information or data into a structured format.

to be obtained

Implies acquiring something through effort or action.

to be retrieved

Emphasizes the act of getting something back from a storage location.

to be harvested

Suggests collecting a yield or crop after a period of growth or development.

to be extracted

Highlights the process of removing something from a source.

to be picked up

Indicates a casual or convenient act of collecting.

to be received

Focuses on the action of getting or accepting something that is sent or given.

FAQs

How can I use "to be collected" in a sentence?

The phrase "to be collected" is used to indicate that something will be gathered or acquired in the future. For example, "The samples are ready to be collected" or "The debt is to be collected next month".

What are some alternatives to "to be collected"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "to be gathered", "to be retrieved", or "to be obtained".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "to be collected"?

While "to be collected" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct. For example, instead of "The data is to be collected by the team", you can say "The team will collect the data".

What does "to be collected" mean in a business context?

In a business context, "to be collected" often refers to payments, debts, or data that need to be gathered. For instance, "Outstanding invoices are to be collected by the end of the quarter".