assign a value to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assign a value to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving programming, mathematics, or any situation where a specific value is designated to a variable or object. Example: "In the code, you need to assign a value to the variable before using it in calculations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There's an asset, and people assign a value to it".

The New York Times

Fink on Monday went so far as to assign a value to the looming downside.

The Washington Post

It would be nearly impossible to measure all of it and assign a value to it.

The New York Times

Analysts were hesitant to assign a value to the unit, which has a book value of $169 million.

The New York Times

Neither the Palace Museum nor the Li Yiang Museum tried to assign a value to the missing purses.

The New York Times

Museum officials declined to assign a value to the artwork, but outside experts said it could range as high as $1 million.

The New York Times

Paribas said that it couldn't assign a value to the assets in the funds, because the market for them had disappeared.

The New Yorker

Homans McGraw executives could not be reached by telephone, and Alamito did not assign a value to Homans McGraw's latest bid.

The New York Times

If Roy's painting were an average painting, using it to assign a value to paintings like Tony's wouldn't be a bad way to estimate returns.

Stanford University

The art index — one of those repeat sales indices we mentioned before — uses the price appreciation for Roy's painting to assign a value to Tony's painting.

Stanford University

Please note, we will not appraise your items or assign a value to them — we will only help to identify them.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assign a value to", ensure the context clearly indicates the method or criteria used for assigning the value. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "assign a value to" when a more specific verb like "calculate", "estimate", or "appraise" would provide greater precision and clarity. For example, instead of "assign a value to the property", consider "appraise the property" for better accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assign a value to" functions as a verb phrase. It signifies the action of attributing a specific numerical or qualitative worth to something. As indicated by Ludwig, this is commonly used in programming, mathematics, and other situations where a value needs to be designated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assign a value to" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the act of attributing worth, whether numerical or qualitative, to something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely employed across various domains like academia, news, and science. While alternatives such as "give a value to" or "allocate a value to" exist, the choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key to avoid ambiguity. Being mindful of more precise verbs for different situations contributes to a more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give a value to

Simple substitution of "assign" with "give", maintains similar meaning.

allocate a value to

Replaces "assign" with "allocate", suggesting a more formal or deliberate assignment.

ascribe a value to

Uses "ascribe" instead of "assign", implying attribution based on inherent qualities.

attach a value to

Replaces "assign" with "attach", indicating a connection or association with a value.

attribute a value to

Uses "attribute" which suggests the value is a characteristic or property of something.

place a value on

Emphasizes the act of evaluating and determining worth.

determine the worth of

Focuses on the process of assessing monetary or qualitative worth.

evaluate the importance of

Shifts the focus to judging the significance or relevance of something.

quantify the merit of

Highlights the act of measuring and expressing merit numerically.

estimate the cost of

Specifically relates to assessing financial worth.

FAQs

How can I use "assign a value to" in a sentence?

You can use "assign a value to" when you need to give a specific worth or importance to something. For example, "The analyst will assign a value to the company's assets during the evaluation process".

What's the difference between "assign a value to" and "give a value to"?

While both phrases are similar, "assign a value to" often implies a more formal or official determination, whereas "give a value to" can be more informal and general.

What are some alternatives to "assign a value to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "evaluate", "estimate", or "appraise" instead of "assign a value to".

When is it not appropriate to use "assign a value to"?

Avoid using "assign a value to" when the process of valuation is subjective and lacks a clear, objective basis. In such cases, using phrases like "perceive" or "consider" might be more appropriate.