tour guide

USAGE SUMMARY

"tour guide" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone who is responsible for providing tours of a location. For example, "The tour guide took us all around the city, pointing out the most famous landmarks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Tour guide patter hardly qualifies.

The Economist

Henry James as tour guide?

The New York Times - Travel

She's an excellent tour guide.

Independent

tour guide into Bobst Library.

The New York Times

Hartley is a tour guide and writer.

The Washington Post

He was like a tour guide.

The Guardian

"This is new," whispered our tour guide.

The New York Times - Travel

Even the tour guide is impressed.

The Guardian - Travel

"And Abbie is the tour guide".

The New York Times

What a tour guide to Provence.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This article describes the software architecture of an autonomous, interactive tour-guide robot.

Artificial Intelligence

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a "tour guide", consider specifying the type of tour or location to provide more context (e.g., "historical tour guide", "walking tour guide").

Common error

Instead of simply calling someone a "tour guide", provide details about their expertise or the specific tours they lead. For instance, specify if they specialize in art history tours, nature walks, or culinary experiences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tour guide" functions primarily as a noun, specifically a common noun, that identifies a person whose job is to show places of interest to tourists. Ludwig confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Travel

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tour guide" is a very common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a person who assists and informs people on organized tours. As Ludwig AI points out, it is frequently found in news and media, travel writing, and general conversational contexts. While the term is generally neutral in register, specifying the type of tour or location adds valuable context. Related phrases include "travel guide" and "sightseeing guide". When using "tour guide", avoid being too general and consider specifying areas of expertise for improved clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sightseeing guide

Focuses on the act of showing someone around to see sights.

travel guide

Emphasizes the travel aspect but can also refer to a book or resource.

local guide

Highlights that the person is from the area being toured.

guide

Shorter version emphasizing the act of guiding rather than the context of tourism.

walking tour leader

Highlights the mode of transportation and the act of leading.

adventure guide

Emphasizes leading adventure tours.

docent

Specifically refers to a guide in a museum or gallery setting.

historical interpreter

Focuses on the interpretation of historical sites.

cultural ambassador

Suggests a broader role in representing and explaining culture.

экскурсовод (ekskursovod)

This is a transliteration of the Russian word for "tour guide".

FAQs

How do you use "tour guide" in a sentence?

You can use "tour guide" to describe a person who leads tours, such as, "The "tour guide" shared fascinating stories about the city's history".

What's a more formal term for "tour guide"?

While "tour guide" is widely accepted, you could use " экскурсовод (ekskursovod)" or "historical interpreter" depending on the specific context.

What skills are important for a "tour guide" to have?

Important skills for a "tour guide" include excellent communication skills, in-depth knowledge of the tour location, and the ability to engage and entertain a group.

Can "tour guide" refer to a book or online resource?

While primarily used for a person, "travel guide" or "sightseeing guide" may refer to a book or online resource offering travel information.