analyze

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "analyze" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of examining something closely or carefully in order to understand it better. For example, "The economist analyzed the data before making her prediction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While Aaron Swartz didn't live to see it, those who knew him, such as David Segal, the executive director of US organisation Demand Progress, say they have little doubt he would be "on the front lines fighting against a world in which governments observe, collect, and analyze our every digital action".

The Guardian - Tech

So, while they can analyze the past pretty well, they tend to be terrible at reading the present and, particularly, at predicting the future.

The Guardian - Opinion

It also follows a more expansive effort in both chambers of Congress to actively restrict the amount of Americans phone records that the NSA can collect and analyze.

The Guardian

The company wanted to analyze the "offending fecal matter" – and their employees' DNA via cheek swabs – to identify the culprit.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only afterward were they made available so we could analyze the results.

The Economist

In 2011, PayPal bought a supercomputer from Cray competitor Silicon Graphics International in order to analyze transactional data in real time.

The Economist

To shed light on the jobs issue, we analyze the iPod, which is manufactured offshore using mostly foreign-made components.

The Economist

The authors analyze several international events (America's involvement in Somalia, the Yom Kippur War) where, they argue, the initial perception of victory and defeat fail to match a retrospective analysis.Might it go similarly with the 2006 Democratic victory?

The Economist

The interesting question is why all of these experts, whose careers depend on their supposed ability to analyze and understand the mood of the public (and of corporations), could have so completely misdiagnosed what was happening.

The Economist

SIR —I was very disappointed in your article in the 20 January issue, which purported to analyze the remuneration of CEOs and other top management of large corporations.

The Economist

The premise here is that since credit decisions are almost always delegated to agents inside banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, and so forth, any effort to analyze the pricing of credit has to take into account not only household preferences and beliefs, but also the incentives facing the agents actually making the decisions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "analyze", ensure you have a clear methodology or framework. State what criteria or methods you are using to ensure a rigorous process.

Common error

Avoid using "analyze" without a specific goal. Ensure your analysis is focused and contributes to a well-defined objective. If the analysis does not provide a valuable conclusion is unnecessary to do it.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "analyze" is a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating the thing being subjected to examination. Ludwig AI shows many examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

17%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "analyze" is a versatile transitive verb that means to examine something methodically and in detail, typically to explain and interpret it. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and very common across various contexts, especially in scientific, news, and formal business settings. When employing "analyze", ensure a clear methodology and focused objective to avoid unfocused conclusions. Consider related terms such as "examine", "investigate", or "assess" to convey the exact nuance you intend. By keeping these guidelines in mind, you can use "analyze" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examine

Focuses on a detailed inspection or investigation.

investigate

Implies a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. so as to establish the truth.

scrutinize

Highlights a critical observation or examination.

assess

Emphasizes evaluating the nature, ability, or quality of something.

evaluate

Suggests forming an idea about the value of something.

study

Involves dedicating time and attention to acquiring knowledge on a subject.

explore

Implies investigating a topic or area in detail.

interpret

Focuses on explaining the meaning of information or actions.

break down

Suggests separating something into smaller parts to understand it better.

dissect

Implies cutting something apart to examine its internal structure.

FAQs

How can I use "analyze" in a sentence?

You can use "analyze" to describe examining something closely, such as, "The scientist will "analyze" the data to find a correlation".

What words can I use instead of "analyze"?

Alternatives include "examine", "investigate", or "assess", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "analyze" and "examine"?

"Analyze" implies breaking something down into its constituent parts to understand it better, while "examine" suggests a closer, more detailed inspection.

When is it appropriate to use "analyze" in writing?

Use "analyze" when you need to closely study something complex to understand its nature or elements, especially in academic, scientific, or professional contexts.