aid by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aid by" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to assistance or support provided by someone or something, but it is more typical to use "aided by" instead. Example: "The project was successfully completed, aided by the contributions of the entire team."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He banished aid by insulting foreign diplomats.

The Economist

He could reactivate foreign aid by carrying out democratic reforms.

The Economist

The budget reduces education aid by nearly $1.3 billion.

The New York Times

Congress is proposing to chop American aid by a fifth.

The Economist

Last year, Japan cut its foreign aid by 10.3percentt.

The New York Times

This we will endeavour to aid by explanatory notes and observations in the collection and arrangement.

The Economist

Residents were removed from their homes by force, and denied crucial aid by humanitarian groups.

Independent

The rock was used as a navigational aid by early mariners.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Put differently, you could double aid by cutting this version of tax evasion.

The New York Times

A second bill will cut the growing costs of legal aid by streamlining judicial procedures.

The Economist

Samaritan's Purse, Graham's charity, is now transporting food aid by plane from Khartoum to Darfur.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically acceptable, consider using more common and natural-sounding alternatives like "aided by", "assisted by", or "supported by" for improved clarity and readability. Choose the alternative that most precisely reflects the nature of the support provided.

Common error

While "aid by" isn't strictly incorrect, its infrequent usage can make writing sound awkward or unnatural, particularly in formal contexts. Opt for more conventional phrases to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aid by" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating the means or agent through which assistance is provided. Ludwig AI indicates that it is less common than alternatives like "aided by".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Science & Research

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "aid by" is grammatically permissible, it's less common than alternatives like "aided by", "assisted by", or "supported by". Ludwig AI flags it as a construction that may sound awkward. Usage is primarily found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register. When writing, consider whether a more conventional phrasing would enhance clarity and readability. Remember that it's always better to consider the audience of the text you are trying to compose and, based on their language expectations, choose the best expression available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

helped by

This alternative directly substitutes "aid" with its synonym "helped", emphasizing the action of providing assistance.

assisted by

Similar to "helped by", this phrase uses "assisted" as a synonym for "aid", highlighting the act of providing help.

supported by

This phrase emphasizes the provision of support, which is a broader concept encompassing aid.

facilitated by

This phrase emphasizes how something was made easier with assistance.

enabled by

This alternative indicates that something was made possible through assistance.

through the assistance of

This phrase provides a more formal way of expressing that assistance was provided.

with the help of

This alternative is a common and straightforward way of indicating assistance.

made possible by

This phrase highlights the enabling aspect of the assistance.

contributed to by

This alternative emphasizes the contribution made through assistance.

due to the aid of

This phrases means that as a consequence, and because of the help.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "aid by"?

More common alternatives to "aid by" include "aided by", "assisted by", or "supported by". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "aid by" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "aid by" is less common and can sound awkward. It is usually better to use alternatives like "aided by".

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

You can use "aid by" to indicate that something is being helped or supported by something else, although it's advisable to consider using more typical phrasing. For example: "The project was completed with aid by volunteers" – but "The project was completed aided by volunteers" sounds more natural.

What's the difference between "aid by" and "aided by"?

"Aid by" suggests a relationship of assistance, but "aided by" is the more standard and natural-sounding construction in English. Using "aided by" ensures clarity and avoids potential awkwardness.