a paper by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a paper by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a written work or article authored by someone, typically in academic or formal contexts. Example: "I recently read a paper by Dr. Smith on climate change and its effects on biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It all started when I accidently stumbled on a paper by a few American psychologists.

The Guardian - Opinion

Not according to a paper by the New York University political scientist Pablo Barberá.

The New York Times

A paper by the thinktank CentreForum proposes a new way to let popular universities grow.

The Guardian

They referred me to a paper by the National Foundation for Educational Research.

The Guardian - Opinion

AN abstract of a paper by C. F. Elwell in Journ.

Nature

Mr. Stoppard borrowed his title from a paper by Dr. Chalmers.

The New York Times - Science

"That illustration of the walnut brain is from a paper by Bruce Perry.

The Guardian

A paper by the Brookings Institution, a think-tank, disputes this.

The Economist

A paper by Jarrad Harford of the University of Washington Business School provides an answer.

The Economist

A paper by Navigant Economics, a consultancy, then examined three stimulus-financed programmes.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Authors can request a waiver on a paper-by-paper basis.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When citing sources, ensure you include the full name of the author(s) and the publication year for clarity and proper attribution.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "a paper by" when you can actively state the author's name and action, making your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "a paper by Smith suggests…", write "Smith suggests in their paper…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a paper by" serves as a prepositional phrase that introduces the author or creator of a document, study, or article. Ludwig confirms that is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Its primary function is to attribute authorship or source to a particular written work.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

33%

Science

29%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a paper by" is a grammatically sound and very common way to attribute authorship or cite a source in academic, scientific, and general writing. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. While highly versatile, the phrase is generally formal. For improved clarity and impact, consider direct attribution. Remember to always provide full author details and publication years to facilitate verification. This phrase appears most frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an article written by

Focuses on the act of writing, emphasizing the author's direct involvement.

a study conducted by

Highlights the research aspect, suitable for scientific or academic contexts.

a report authored by

Emphasizes the formal and documented nature of the work.

research by

A more concise way to indicate the source of research findings.

the work of

Broadly refers to someone's creative or intellectual output.

a document by

Refers to any kind of written or printed information.

an analysis from

Highlights the analytical aspect of a written work.

a publication by

Emphasizes that the work has been formally published.

findings from

Emphasizes the informational content within a work.

according to

A general way to attribute information to a source, often used for paraphrasing or summarizing.

FAQs

How can I use "a paper by" in a sentence?

You can use "a paper by" to introduce a study or research. For example, "A paper by John Smith examines the effects of climate change."

What are some alternatives to "a paper by"?

Alternatives include "an article written by", "a study conducted by", or "a report authored by", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a paper by" or to directly name the author?

Directly naming the author (e.g., "Smith argues that...") is often more concise and impactful. Use "a paper by" when you want to emphasize the source as a formal document.

What kind of sources does "a paper by" typically refer to?

"A paper by" usually refers to academic or research papers, but can also apply to reports, articles, and other formal written works.