are sorted by a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are sorted by a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a method of organizing items or data based on a specific criterion, represented by "a." Example: "The results of the survey are sorted by a numerical value to facilitate analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Its super-inventive premise is built on the most flamboyant technobabble, and yet it takes a literal (if badly green-screened) spanner in the works to save the day, as the physics-twisting threats are sorted by a massive explosion.

The Guardian

For the first problem, the key is a pre-conditioning process during which particle labels are sorted by a cell label in the domain to which the particles belong.

Journal of Computational Physics

Here they are sorted by a pair of labial palps (mouth appendages), before being ingested.

Wikipedia

These related articles in turn are sorted by a relevance score [ 30].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In the Maxwell's Demon thought experiment, particles in a container are sorted by an "intelligent gatekeeper", the "demon".

Chemical Reviews

All are being sorted by a staff of 16 personnel assistants.

The New York Times

Social life involves being sorted by a few others who have, by the rest of us, been given the power to sort.

The New Yorker

Scruton believes that many ecological externalities – river pollution, for example – can be sorted by a combination of free markets and common law.

The Guardian - Books

The first episode of Bad Internet concerns a future in which society is sorted by a Buzzfeed "which Friends friend are you" quiz and is viewable for free, with later episodes released weekly and priced at £1.89.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's sorted by a crowdsourced social result system.

TechCrunch

The remaining sequences were sorted by a mapping file to their relevant samples according to the barcode.

AMB Express

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are sorted by a", ensure that the criterion 'a' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The books are sorted by a genre" provides a clear understanding of the sorting method.

Common error

Avoid using "are sorted by a" without specifying what 'a' refers to. An incomplete phrase like "The files are sorted by a…" leaves the reader wondering about the sorting method, reducing clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are sorted by a" functions as a passive construction, indicating how items or data are arranged. Ludwig's examples show it describing arrangement based on a specific criterion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are sorted by a" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to describe how items or data are organized based on a specific criterion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides examples across various domains, including science, news, and wiki sources. While versatile, it's important to ensure the sorting criterion is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Ludwig's analysis reveals that while alternatives like "are classified by a" exist, "are sorted by a" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are classified by a

Replaces 'sorted' with 'classified', emphasizing categorization.

are grouped by a

Uses 'grouped' instead of 'sorted', highlighting the act of forming groups.

are arranged by a

Substitutes 'sorted' with 'arranged', focusing on order and placement.

are categorized by a

Emphasizes the act of putting items into categories.

are ordered by a

Highlights the sequential placement of items.

are ranked by a

Implies a hierarchy or scale is used for the arrangement.

are organized by a

Focuses on the systematic arrangement of items.

are structured by a

Indicates an underlying structure guides the arrangement.

are divided by a

Emphasizes the separation of items based on a criterion.

are indexed by a

Highlights the creation of an index for easy retrieval.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are sorted by a" to sound more active?

Instead of the passive voice "are sorted by a", you can use active voice constructions such as "we sort them by a", "the system sorts them by a", or "users can sort them by a".

Is it better to say "are sorted by a" or "are sorted according to a"?

"Are sorted by a" is generally more concise and common. "Are sorted according to a" is also correct but can sound more formal or slightly redundant in many contexts.

What does it mean when something "is sorted by a"?

It means that items or data are arranged or organized based on a specific characteristic, feature, or category, which allows for easier searching, comparing, or analyzing.

What are some common things that "are sorted by a"?

Common examples include lists "are sorted by date", search results "are sorted by relevance", data "are sorted by size", or even people "are sorted by age" in certain studies or demographics.