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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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applying onto

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "applying onto" is not standard in written English and is generally considered incorrect.
You can use "applying" on its own or with "to" instead of "onto." Example: "The researchers are applying the new method to their experiments."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At the days indicated in the Figure legend, 1 ml of each culture was pelleted at 16,000×g for 10 minutes at room temperature, washed twice with HEPES buffer, and resuspended into 16 µl of 50 mM EDTA before applying onto gels.

Science

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

parvum antibody was applied onto the glass slide.

Supernatants were applied onto a HisPrep column (GE Healthcare) charged with 100 mM NiSO4.

Science & Research

Nature

The solution was applied onto carbon-coated copper grids without any further dilution or purification.

Science & Research

Nature

E-Ink can be applied onto virtually any surface, including glass, plastic, fabric, and even paper.

Supernatants were applied onto a Glutathione Sepharose High Performance column (GE Healthcare).

Science & Research

Nature

To avoid frizz, use spray-on wax, he tells his clients, but "always applied onto the fingers first".

News & Media

The New York Times

The specimen suspensions (2.5 μl) were applied onto a carbon-coated copper grid that had been glow-discharged beforehand.

Science & Research

Nature

at 95 °C before being applied onto 12% Bis-Tris Plus gel (Invitrogen) and run at 200 V for 22 min.

Science & Research

Nature

Vesicle and micelle solutions were applied onto human skin in vitro and in vivo.

This newly developed PEDOT/PSS-based transparent anode is successfully applied onto flexible substrates.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Favor the simpler and more conventional phrasing "applying to" in most contexts. This ensures clarity and avoids potential grammatical objections.

Common error

Avoid using "onto" unnecessarily. Often, "to" is sufficient and maintains grammatical correctness. For example, prefer "applying the solution to the skin" over "applying the solution onto the skin".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

75%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "applying onto" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition, indicating the action of placing or implementing something on a surface. As Ludwig AI suggests, the formulation "applying to" is more grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "applying onto" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, with only a handful of examples found in diverse sources. Ludwig AI recommends using "applying to" as a more standard alternative. While present in some scientific and news contexts, it is less common in formal writing. It's better to use simpler phrasing for clarity and grammatical correctness. Remember that, while understandable, this isn’t a widely accepted phrasing.

FAQs

Is "applying onto" grammatically correct?

The phrase "applying onto" is generally considered incorrect in standard English. It's better to use "applying to" or simply "applying".

What are some alternatives to "applying onto"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "placing on", "spreading over", or "affixing to".

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

You can say, "The researchers are "applying to" a new method to their experiments", or "She is "applying to" several universities".

What's the difference between "applying to" and "applying for"?

"Applying to" generally refers to applying something to a surface or situation, while "applying for" refers to making a formal request, such as for a job or a grant.

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Source & Trust

75%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: