various things

USAGE SUMMARY

"various things" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a variety of different objects, ideas, or actions. Example: The store sold various things, including clothes, electronics, and home goods.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Various things were stolen.

The New York Times

Various things happened.

The Guardian - Books

Various things were lucky for me.

The New Yorker

The government is doing various things.

The Guardian

From this we could learn various things.

The New York Times

"Various things are happening simultaneously," she explained.

The Guardian

"Various things it's completely ruined," he said.

The Guardian

"We have various things we're considering".

The New York Times

So he was looking at various things.

The New York Times - Arts

You learn various things on a DVD.

The New York Times

Various things had been going wrong.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "various things" when you want to indicate a range or assortment without being specific. It's suitable when the exact details aren't important or when listing them would be cumbersome.

Common error

Avoid relying on "various things" too often in your writing, as it can make your sentences vague and less impactful. Try to replace it with more specific descriptions to enhance clarity and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "various things" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used. For example, in the sentence "He collects various things, " the phrase acts as the object of the verb "collects".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "various things" is a grammatically correct and very common noun phrase used to refer to a collection of unspecified items, aspects, or activities. According to Ludwig AI, it is suitable for use in many contexts, most commonly appearing in news and media, science, and formal business settings. To enhance writing, consider substituting it with more specific alternatives like "assorted items" or "diverse aspects" when detail is important. Avoid overusing it to prevent vagueness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diverse things

Emphasizes the range and variety of items, using "diverse" instead of "various".

miscellaneous things

Replaces "various" with "miscellaneous", highlighting the diverse and potentially unrelated nature of the items.

assorted things

Highlights the variety and mixture of items, using "assorted" as a substitute.

multiple things

Focuses on the quantity of items, using "multiple" instead of "various".

certain things

Substitutes "various" with "certain", focusing on specific but unspecified items.

numerous things

Stresses the large quantity of items, using "numerous" as a substitute for "various".

dissimilar things

Replaces "various" with "dissimilar", emphasizing the differences between the items.

disparate things

Highlights the distinct and unrelated nature of the items by using "disparate".

divergent things

Emphasizes the differing nature of the items by using "divergent" instead of "various".

distinctive things

Replaces "various" with "distinctive", emphasizing the unique qualities of the items.

FAQs

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

You can use "various things" to refer to a range of items, aspects, or activities without specifying them individually. For example, "The museum displayed various things from ancient civilizations."

What are some alternatives to saying "various things"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "assorted things", "multiple things", or "diverse elements" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to be specific instead of saying "various things"?

While "various things" is grammatically correct, being specific can often improve the clarity and impact of your writing. Whenever possible, consider providing more detail or using more descriptive language.

What's the difference between "various things" and "certain things"?

"Various things" implies a range or assortment, while "certain things" suggests specific items or aspects that are not explicitly named but are known or understood in the context.