assign to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assign to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when designating a task, responsibility, or resource to a specific person or group. Example: "Please assign the project to the marketing team for further development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The status we city folk assign to high art is a presumption born of our surroundings.

The New York Times - Arts

Assign to each group member one of the six areas of inquiry below.

The New York Times

"We all choose a role which we assign to ourselves," the self-appointed Enrico says.

The New York Times

Divide the class into six groups and assign to each one of the following topics.

The New York Times

But they do not choose how much prominence others wish to assign to it.

The Guardian - Opinion

This type seems to be popular for teachers to assign to students.

The Guardian

We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory.

The Guardian

These are not the names we assign to symptoms of mental illness.

The New Yorker

Some of them we assign to a writer and they go off and write a draft.

The New York Times

Outward appearances do not reveal the internal meanings that people assign to a cultural innovation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The department could fire them, assign to permanent desk duty or dock them vacation days.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assign to", ensure that the subject receiving the assignment is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences in a way that obscures who is doing the assigning. For example, instead of "The task was assigned to the team", use "The manager assigned the task to the team."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assign to" functions as a transitive verb phrase, indicating the act of allocating, designating, or attributing something to a specific recipient. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly used to denote the act of giving responsibility or tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assign to" is a versatile verb phrase used to denote allocation, designation, or attribution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific literature. While generally neutral in register, its formality can shift based on the source and context. Key considerations include ensuring clarity in the subject receiving the assignment and avoiding overuse of the passive voice. Alternatives such as "allocate to" and "designate to" can be used depending on the specific nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate to

Suggests a more formal or official distribution.

designate to

Implies a specific purpose or role is being assigned.

attribute to

Focuses on ascribing a quality or characteristic.

ascribe to

Similar to attribute to, but can also imply assigning a cause or origin.

entrust to

Highlights the act of placing trust or responsibility.

allocate towards

Specifies that the assignment has a direction or destination.

devote to

Implies a dedicated allocation of resources or time.

credit to

Focuses on giving recognition or acknowledgement.

charge to

Indicates assigning a cost or responsibility.

allot to

Suggests portioning out a share or amount.

FAQs

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

You can use "assign to" to indicate giving a task, role, or value to someone or something. For example: "The teacher will assign the homework to the students", or "We need to assign a priority level to each task".

What are some alternatives to "assign to"?

You can use alternatives like "allocate to", "designate to", or "attribute to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "assign something to someone" or "assign someone something"?

While both forms can be grammatically correct, "assign something to someone" is generally preferred for clarity. The alternative "assign someone something" can sound awkward.

What is the difference between "assign to" and "attribute to"?

"Assign to" typically refers to giving a task, responsibility, or resource. "Attribute to" refers to ascribing a cause, characteristic, or quality. The phrases are not interchangeable.