Provided that

USAGE SUMMARY

'provided that' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a condition or stipulation which must be met in order for something else to happen. For example: I will give you a loan, provided that you can pay it back within three months.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Provided that is small enough.

Advances in Difference Equations

I provided that".

The New Yorker

Teaching certainly provided that challenge.

Independent

So Sjon provided that".

The New York Times

Neal provided that".

The New York Times

"By provoking Israel, Hezbollah provided that opportunity".

The New Yorker

Certainly those two boys provided that spark".

Independent

Ban has certainly provided that cure.

The New York Times

Perhaps the politician provided that instead.

The New York Times - Sports

The game provided that moment.

The Guardian - Sport

The Knicks have not provided that person.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provided that", ensure the condition is clearly stated and directly relevant to the outcome. Ambiguous conditions can lead to misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid placing the "provided that" clause too far from the main clause it modifies. This can create confusion about which part of the sentence the condition applies to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provided that" functions as a subordinating conjunction, introducing a conditional clause. It stipulates a requirement or condition that must be fulfilled for the main clause to be valid, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "provided that" is a versatile conjunction used to introduce a condition or stipulation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is frequently used in academic and scientific writing, as well as in news and media. Remember to ensure your condition is clearly stated and relevant to the main clause. Alternatives include "on the condition that" or "assuming that", offering stylistic variations for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the condition that

Emphasizes the conditional aspect more strongly than "provided that".

assuming that

Suggests a hypothesis or supposition upon which something else depends.

given that

Implies something is already known or accepted as a basis for what follows.

in the event that

Highlights a possible future occurrence that triggers a specific outcome.

subject to the condition that

More formal and legalistic than "provided that".

as long as

Indicates a duration or continuation tied to a specific condition.

if and only if

Expresses a stronger, bidirectional dependency.

contingent upon

Highlights the dependency of one thing on another.

with the understanding that

Suggests an agreement or mutual expectation.

granting that

Acknowledges something for the sake of argument or discussion.

FAQs

How do I use "provided that" in a sentence?

"Provided that" introduces a condition that must be met for the main clause to be true. For example, "I will help you, provided that you ask politely."

What phrases can I use instead of "provided that"?

Alternatives include "on the condition that", "assuming that", or "given that", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "provided that" or "if"?

"Provided that" generally carries a slightly more formal tone than a simple "if". Use "provided that" in situations where a formal agreement or condition is being specified.

What's the difference between "provided that" and "unless"?

"Provided that" introduces a positive condition, while "unless" introduces a negative condition. For example, "I will go, provided that it doesn't rain" vs. "I will go, unless it rains".