active and inactive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "active and inactive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe states, conditions, or statuses of objects, systems, or individuals, often in contexts like technology, health, or participation. Example: "The application has two modes: active and inactive, which determine its functionality."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In addition, difference in DNMT3B activity between active and inactive cannot be ruled out.

Nature

We use the activity metric value D to cluster all ports into active and inactive ports.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The closest relationship in terms of active and inactive periods in Fig. 7 is between TC activity and relative SST.

Nature

Most important, epigenetic marks were erased and rewritten, resetting the landscape of active and inactive genes.

The New Yorker

Enhancing homology-directed genome editing by catalytically active and inactive CRISPR-Cas9 using asymmetric donor DNA.

University of California, Berkeley

During development, stochastic promoter switching between active and inactive states results in transcriptional bursts.

University of California, Berkeley

The current lineup of active and inactive genes determines how the cell as a whole functions.

Stanford University

The rest of the way, Coles bounced back and forth like a yo-yo between active and inactive.

The New York Times - Sports

Simonis, M. et al. Nuclear organization of active and inactive chromatin domains uncovered by chromosome conformation capture-on-chip (4C).

Nature

VanLoock, M.S. et al. Complexes of RecA with LexA and RecX differentiate between active and inactive RecA nucleoprotein filaments.

Nature

Li, X. Y. et al. Transcription factors bind thousands of active and inactive regions in the Drosophila blastoderm.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a system or process, clearly define what constitutes an "active" state versus an "inactive" state to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't assume your audience understands what "active" and "inactive" mean in your specific context. Always provide enough information for clarity, especially when dealing with technical subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "active and inactive" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It is used to categorize or classify entities based on their current state of operation or activity. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is commonly used across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

Academia

16%

News & Media

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "active and inactive" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the state of various entities, ranging from genes and compounds to user accounts and satellites. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in scientific, academic, and news contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly define what constitutes an "active" versus an "inactive" state in your specific context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "operational and non-operational" or "enabled and disabled" may be more suitable depending on the context. The phrase's versatility and clarity make it a valuable tool in many forms of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

operational and non-operational

Focuses on whether something is currently in use or capable of being used.

functioning and non-functioning

Highlights the ability of something to perform its intended task.

live and dormant

Emphasizes a state of being alive or temporarily suspended.

enabled and disabled

Indicates whether a feature or function is turned on or off.

online and offline

Refers to the state of being connected to or disconnected from a network.

engaged and disengaged

Describes a state of involvement or lack thereof.

in use and out of use

Highlights the current utilization status.

working and idle

Indicates whether something is currently performing work or is at rest.

activated and deactivated

Focuses on the process of initiating or terminating an action.

productive and unproductive

Emphasizes the level of output or results achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "active and inactive" in a sentence?

You can use "active and inactive" to describe the status of various entities. For example: "The database contains both "active and inactive" user accounts", or "The study analyzed "active and inactive" volcanoes".

What's the difference between "active and inactive" and "operational and non-operational"?

"Active and inactive" generally refers to whether something is currently performing its function or not. "Operational and non-operational" is similar, but often implies a system's readiness or ability to function. You might say a device is "active" when it's running, but only "operational" if it's also running correctly.

What are some synonyms for "active and inactive" in a technological context?

In technology, you might use alternatives like "enabled and disabled", "online and offline", or "running and stopped".

Is it better to say "active and inactive" or "functioning and non-functioning"?

Both phrases are valid, but "active and inactive" is more general. "Functioning and non-functioning" specifically relates to whether something is working correctly. Choose the phrase that best reflects the state you're describing.