align to

USAGE SUMMARY

"align to" is correct and is used in written English.
Example: We need to align to the company's policies when making decisions.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In addition, 19% align to hypothetical proteins and 7.5% have no significant alignment.

BMC Genomics

"We very much make it our mission not to align to any political party.

The Guardian

Many studies have also shown that cells readily align to surface topography.

Acta Biomaterialia

"But if you pick a goal far enough out, people can align to it.

The Economist

Spines align to form bark, rolled pages serve as branches and covers become leaves.

The New York Times

So many different factors had to align to make a landing.

The New York Times

And when one of these websites exposes corruption, Orban-friendly publications align to attack it.

The New York Times

With this method, only reads that align to the gene-specific amplicon are counted.

Nature

Genes that failed to align to all databases were assigned gene ages of PS13 (O. sativa).

Nature

People will loosely align to contribute their skills to achieve a specific outcome.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The challenge is ensuring that the efforts of individual teams align to achieve company-wide objectives.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "align to" when you want to indicate that something should match, agree with, or conform to something else, such as goals, standards, or requirements.

Common error

Avoid using "align to" when you simply mean 'to line up' physically. While alignment can imply a physical arrangement, "align to" typically describes abstract concepts like strategies or objectives coming into agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "align to" functions as a connector, indicating a relationship of agreement, correspondence, or conformity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "align to" is a versatile connector used to express agreement or correspondence, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is frequently found in scientific, news, and business contexts. When using "align to", ensure you're indicating a clear relationship of matching or conforming to a specific target. While "align with" is a close alternative, "align to" carries a slightly stronger sense of directed action. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "align to" in your writing to convey precise relationships between ideas or objectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conform to

Implies adherence to a set standard or requirement, focusing on compliance.

correspond to

Highlights a direct relationship or matching between two things.

harmonize with

Suggests creating a pleasing or balanced relationship, often in a collaborative context.

coordinate with

Emphasizes working together to achieve a common goal, requiring synchronization.

adapt to

Focuses on changing or modifying something to fit a new environment or situation.

attune to

Suggests making something receptive or responsive to something else, often related to awareness.

adjust to

Implies making small changes to achieve a better fit or alignment.

synchronize with

Highlights aligning timings or schedules to occur simultaneously.

tally with

Refers to an agreement or match in numerical terms or amounts.

be in agreement with

Expresses a state of concurrence or shared opinion.

FAQs

How can I use "align to" in a sentence?

You can use "align to" to indicate agreement or correspondence, as in "The company's goals need to "align to" the overall mission statement".

What is a good substitute for "align to"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "conform to", "correspond to", or "harmonize with" as alternatives to "align to".

Is it better to say "align with" or "align to"?

Both "align with" and "align to" are acceptable, but "align with" is generally more common. "Align to" emphasizes a directed relationship or conformity towards a specific target.

How does "align to" differ from "be consistent with"?

While both suggest agreement, "align to" implies a more active process of adjustment or matching, whereas "be consistent with" simply describes a state of ongoing agreement. You "align to" achieve consistency.