assist

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'assist' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you wish to refer to a person or thing helping in an activity or task, or the act of providing such help. Example sentence: The teacher's assistant was on hand to assist the students in their studies.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are seen as fetters on our freedom of action and finances, but doing little to moderate the behaviour of irresponsible states or to assist our wellbeing as a nation".

The Guardian

Tony Abbott is holding firm against calls to send Australian medical experts to west Africa to help contain the Ebola virus, saying that other countries have yet to give firm commitments to assist in evacuations.

The Guardian

Joe Hockey says a political fundraising forum which asked members for $22,000 a year "to assist Joe Hockey" was "grossly misleading" because he had not accepted money from any organisation or individual.

The Guardian

Ali has also been charged with intending, during the same period, to assist another person to commit acts of terrorism.

The Guardian

The last demonstrated the purest skill, as he twisted into position to drill in after Nathan Aké's beautiful assist.

The Guardian - Sport

"This will enable the aggregation of data across and within industries and will be invaluable to employers to assist them understand the characteristics of their workforce, including occupational segregation, the position of women and men in management and patterns of potentially insecure employment," the WGEA says on its website.

The Guardian

"To assist the community in minimising the alcohol-related harm, we are introducing a No Car No Service policy on cask wine," the sign read.

The Guardian

"I have been immensely proud to be leader of the SDLP and will continue as leader in order to assist the party in a smooth transition to the new leadership," she said.

The Guardian

'It only takes one person saying one thing to get that lead,' said one officer, seconded from Lowestoft to help assist the inquiry.

The Guardian

Despite the complaints, it stayed put, and SRDF's campaign to assist those currently starving in the Horn of Africa continues, both off and online.

The Guardian

Marian Gaborik and Dustin Brown each had a goal and an assist, and Jarret Stoll and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Kings, who led 4-3 aftwo two periods.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assist" when you want to emphasize the act of providing help or support, especially in a formal or professional context. For example, "The software can assist users in creating complex reports."

Common error

Avoid using "assist" in very informal settings, as it can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "help" or "lend a hand" in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "assist" is as a verb, indicating the action of providing help or support to someone or something. As per Ludwig, the word is correct and usable in written English. This aligns with the numerous examples where "assist" functions as a verb within sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "assist" is a versatile verb widely used to describe the act of providing help or support. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and its frequency is very common, especially in news and media contexts. While "assist" can be used across various registers, it's best suited for formal and professional settings, while simpler alternatives like ""help"" may be more appropriate for informal situations. Understanding these nuances will ensure effective and precise communication in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aid

A more general term for providing help or support.

help

A basic and widely used synonym for providing assistance.

give assistance

A more formal way of saying "assist".

support

Implies providing encouragement and resources.

lend a hand

An idiomatic expression suggesting direct assistance.

be of service

Suggests a willingness to help, often in a professional context.

contribute to

Focuses on the act of giving something to help a cause.

facilitate

Implies making something easier or smoother.

promote

Suggests actively supporting or encouraging something.

work with

Highlights collaboration in providing help.

FAQs

How to use "assist" in a sentence?

"Assist" can be used as a verb to describe the action of helping someone. For example, "The program is designed to "help" or "aid" users in managing their data".

What can I say instead of "assist"?

You can use alternatives like ""help"", ""aid"", "support", or "lend a hand" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "assist" or "assistance"?

"Assist" is a verb, while "assistance" is a noun. Use "assist" when describing the act of helping and "assistance" when referring to the help itself. For example, "I will assist you" versus "I need assistance".

What's the difference between "assist" and "help"?

"Assist" is generally more formal than "help". While both words mean to provide support, "assist" is often used in professional or official contexts, whereas "help" is more common in everyday language.