Auxiliary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Auxiliary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to support, assistance, or supplementary functions, often in technical or academic discussions. Example: "The auxiliary system was designed to provide backup power in case of an outage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The government of the UK must cease to vitiate the civil liberties of its people, it must cease to use its territory and its transport facilities as an auxiliary to American military misbehaviour.

The Guardian - Tech

I think the cuts in auxiliary services are really hitting our patients – they need stimulation and their carers need a break.

The Guardian

Only last week, one of Ireland's leading canon lawyers, Monsignor Maurice Dooley, insisted on RTE radio that priests do not have to report child abuse: "Priests are not auxiliary policemen… they do not have an obligation to go down to the police".

The Guardian

Teresa Romero, the Spanish nursing auxiliary who earlier this month became the first person to contract Ebola in Europe, is making "giant steps" towards recovery, according to hospital sources in Madrid.

The Guardian

Cuts in auxiliary services are really hitting our patients – they need stimulation and their carers need a break There used to be six day centres in the city but now there are only two.

The Guardian

Rather than be seen as part of the problem, geothermal needs to present itself as a cheaper, cleaner, more reliable and efficient form of auxiliary power that can provide utilities with the flexibility they urgently seek.

The Economist

By 2020 such jobs will account for a staggering one in seven American workers and that does not include auxiliary firms, such as health-information-technology companies or health consultancies.Given these predictions, two phenomena naturally follow.

The Economist

An auxiliary show for startups took place about 3km away.

The Economist

But since there were so few police, and NATO's soldiers were tied up protecting two road projects, the Taliban soon reoccupied much of the ground.There are big dangers in building up the "auxiliary" force.

The Economist

One piece of intelligence even suggests that Mullah Omar himself, the one-eyed leader of the Taliban, is deeply alarmed by the rapid expansion of the Afghan Local Police (ALP), an auxiliary patrol force supervised by American Special Forces.

The Economist

They could produce infinitely variable auxiliary sounds, or vroomtones.Like ringtones for phones, vroomtones could be offered by third parties.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "auxiliary", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being supported or supplemented. Provide specific details to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "auxiliary" when a more direct term like "supporting" or "supplementary" would be clearer. Overusing technical terms can make writing seem unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The word "Auxiliary" functions primarily as an adjective to describe something that provides support or assistance. It can also function as a noun, referring to a person or group that offers such assistance, as shown in Ludwig's examples about "auxiliary services" or "auxiliary police".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Auxiliary" is a versatile term, primarily functioning as an adjective or noun to describe something that provides support or assistance. Ludwig AI indicates that the term is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news, science, and business contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly defines what's being supported to avoid ambiguity, and consider alternatives like "supplementary" or "supporting" to maintain clarity. The high frequency and presence in authoritative sources underscore its importance in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ancillary

Means providing support or help; similar to "auxiliary" but can sometimes imply a lesser degree of importance.

Supplementary

Indicates providing something additional to enhance or complete; less specific regarding the nature of the support.

Supporting

Implies providing assistance or backing to something; focuses on the supportive role.

Assisting

Focuses on the act of providing help or aid; emphasizes the active role of support.

Subsidiary

Denotes a secondary or subordinate role; emphasizes a hierarchical relationship.

Complementary

Indicates something that completes or enhances something else; highlights a reciprocal relationship.

Additional

Simply means extra or more; lacks the implication of a supporting function.

Backup

Suggests a reserve or alternative in case of failure; focuses on redundancy and safety.

Secondary

Indicates a lower level of importance or priority; highlights a non-primary role.

Accessory

Implies something added for convenience or to enhance; often refers to non-essential items.

FAQs

How is "Auxiliary" typically used in a sentence?

The word "Auxiliary" is used to describe something that provides additional support or assistance. For example, "The hospital relies on "auxiliary staff" during peak hours", or "The car has an "auxiliary power unit" for emergencies."

What are some alternatives to using the word "Auxiliary"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "supplementary", "supporting", "subsidiary", or "ancillary".

When is it appropriate to use "Auxiliary" instead of "Supplementary"?

"Auxiliary" is best used when referring to something that provides additional help or support, whereas "supplementary" refers to something that adds extra information or completes something. The choice depends on whether the focus is on support or addition.

Is "Auxiliary" considered a formal or informal word?

"Auxiliary" tends to be more formal and technical. In casual contexts, words like "supporting" or "helping" might be more appropriate.