to inventory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to inventory" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of taking stock or listing items, often in a business or organizational context. For example, "We need to inventory the supplies before placing a new order." Alternative expressions include "to take stock" and "to list."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I prefer to inventory the books by myself.

The New York Times - Books

You overlook Secretary Norton's public commitment to continue to inventory and protect areas with wilderness characteristics.

The New York Times

That's a pretty strong revival, but most of it is due to inventory restocking.

The New York Times

The software that the Bureau used to inventory the contents of Weiner's laptop kept crashing.

The New Yorker

Klobuchar was assigned to inventory office furniture, while Nides managed to secure actual political work.

The New Yorker

The managers and assistants arrive at least an hour early to inventory each theater.

The New York Times

All this remains thrilling and funny; to detail Dick's conceits is to inventory a time.

The New Yorker

They buy everything from light bulbs and paper clips to inventory.

The New York Times

The calamity hampered production and cut supply chains, leading to inventory shortages for dealers worldwide.

The New York Times

"We have access to inventory on Art Binder on our iPads.

The Economist

When you have 65 drivers and 65 numbers it's pretty hard to inventory all that stuff".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to inventory" in a business context, ensure that the process is clearly defined and consistently applied across different departments or locations to maintain accurate records.

Common error

Avoid using "to inventory" when you actually mean "to invest in". "To inventory" means to create a list of items, while "to invest in" means to allocate resources for future profit or benefit.

Linguistic Context

The infinitive phrase "to inventory" primarily functions as a verb complement or part of a verbal phrase, indicating the action of creating an inventory. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to inventory" is a common and grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to describe the action of creating an inventory or list of items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While alternatives like "to take stock of" or "to catalogue" exist, understanding the nuances of each term is essential for precise communication. A key writing tip is to ensure that "to inventory" is not confused with "to invest in", which has a completely different meaning. Overall, "to inventory" is a versatile and valuable phrase in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to make an inventory

A more verbose way of saying "to inventory", with slightly more emphasis on creating the inventory itself.

to take stock of

Emphasizes the act of assessing and evaluating resources or items.

to catalogue

Focuses on creating a detailed listing or classification.

to enumerate

Highlights the process of counting and listing items individually.

to itemize

Stresses the act of listing items in detail, often for accounting purposes.

to list

A general term for creating a list of items.

to assess

Highlights the evaluation aspect of determining what is available.

to survey

Focuses on a broad overview and assessment of items.

to record

Emphasizes the act of documenting items for future reference.

to check stock

Specifically refers to verifying the available quantity of items.

FAQs

How can I use "to inventory" in a sentence?

You can use "to inventory" to describe the act of creating a list of items. For example, "The company needs "to inventory" all its assets before the audit."

What are some alternatives to "to inventory"?

Alternatives to "to inventory" include "to take stock of", "to catalogue", or "to list" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "inventorying" instead of "to inventory"?

Yes, "inventorying" can be used as a gerund or present participle. For example, "Inventorying the equipment is a crucial task."

What is the difference between "inventory" as a noun and "to inventory" as a verb?

"Inventory" as a noun refers to the list of items itself, while "to inventory" as a verb refers to the action of creating that list. For example, "The inventory is complete" versus "We need "to inventory" the warehouse."