various shapes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "various shapes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe multiple shapes of a particular object. For example, "The artist's collection had various shapes, including circles, triangles, and squares."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mentoring takes various shapes.

The Guardian

General studies takes various shapes.

The New York Times

Synthesis can take various shapes.

Nature

Their various shapes suggest large chessmen.

The New York Times

Internships come in various shapes and sizes.

The New York Times

And indeed, it assumes various shapes.

The New York Times

The men play with guns of various shapes and sizes.

The New Yorker

This week choral music in various shapes and forms dominates.

The New York Times

Draw the multifaceted inclusions that contain various shapes of bubbles.

The New York Times

Several sausages of various shapes hung from a rack.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Interestingly, F2 had polydisperse collection containing various shapes and sizes.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a collection of objects, use "various shapes" to highlight the diversity in their forms. For example: "The artist used clay to create sculptures of "various shapes" and sizes."

Common error

Avoid using "various shapes" to describe something that is uncountable or doesn't inherently have a shape. Instead of saying "The light had various shapes", consider "The light had "various" forms" or "The light created "various" patterns".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "various shapes" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase describing a noun. It indicates that the noun it modifies exists in multiple, different forms. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "various shapes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a multitude of different forms. As shown by Ludwig, it is common in news, science, and general writing, maintaining a neutral tone suitable for diverse contexts. When using the phrase, it is important to ensure that it modifies a countable noun that can logically have different shapes, and it can be replaced by alternatives such as "diverse forms" or "an array of shapes" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Ludwig AI confirms the versatility and correctness of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a multitude of shapes

Emphasizes a large number of shapes.

a range of shapes

Highlights the spectrum or variety of shapes present.

diverse forms

Emphasizes the diversity of the forms rather than specifically mentioning shapes.

various forms and sizes

Expands on "shapes" to include "sizes", providing a more detailed description of the variety.

assorted figures

Replaces "shapes" with "figures", implying a collection of different forms or outlines.

multiple configurations

Focuses on the arrangement or structure of the shapes, highlighting different arrangements.

an array of forms

Focuses on the arrangement or display of different forms.

various configurations

Focuses on different arrangements or structures.

varied outlines

Highlights the different outlines or contours of the shapes.

different geometries

Uses a more technical term, "geometries", to refer to the different spatial properties of the shapes.

FAQs

How can I use "various shapes" in a sentence?

You can use "various shapes" to describe a collection of objects that have different forms, such as: "The art installation featured mirrors in "different sizes" and "various shapes"."

What are some alternatives to saying "various shapes"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "diverse forms", "assorted figures", or "multiple configurations".

Is it correct to say "various shape" instead of "various shapes"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. "Various" implies more than one, so you should always use the plural form "shapes". The correct phrase is "various shapes".

What's the difference between "various shapes" and "different shapes"?

"Various shapes" emphasizes the diversity and range of shapes present, while "different shapes" simply indicates that the shapes are not the same. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the variety or just the distinction.