[Grammar] sampling/sample

[anhnha]

Hello Teachers,
Please explain why we use "sampling" in this sentence.
Here is a sampling of different kinds and sizes of resistors.
Can I use "sample" instead of "sampling".
Here is a sample of different kinds and sizes of resistors.
I have never thought about the use of "sampling" when I write it.
If I wrote the sentence like this, I would always use "sample".
Please help me show the diffence between them?
Thanks!

 

[charliedeut]

Hi,

IMO, it should be 'sample', not 'sampling'. However, there may be something I missed as a non-native speaker of English.

charliedeut

PS: sample - definition of sample by Macmillan Dictionary. #4 is the only instance of 'sampling', and it refers to music. However, as I said, maybe natives may have a different opinion.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would use "a sample", but it wouldn't surprise me if somebody came up with an example of "a sampling).;-)

 

[5jj]

I would use "a sample", but it wouldn't surprise me if somebody came up with an example of "a sampling).;-)

Anything to oblige. There are 921 citations for 'a sampling' in COCA; 668 of these are for for 'a sampling of', where I would use 'a sample of'.

There are only 43 citations for 'a sampling' in BNC, and only five for 'a sampling of'; in the others it's used as an attributive adjective.

So, there seems to be a clear BrE/AmE difference here.

 

[anhnha]

Thanks for help!

I would use "a sample", but it wouldn't surprise me if somebody came up with an example of "a sampling).;-)

Do you mean that sampling can be used and correct?
Do you think that it is a mistake? I read it in a book of native English speaker, therefore at first I thought it has other meaning?
But it seem that I am wrong?
Thank again:-D

 

[anhnha]

Sorry, I missed the answer of 5jj, now I think I have my answers.