associating it with

USAGE SUMMARY

"associating it with" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to connect or link something to another thing. Example: The teacher emphasized the importance of understanding context, associating it with the overall meaning of the text.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Words change their meanings, and so you cannot dignify the cynicism of now by associating it with its distant ancestor.

The Guardian

We record the information for each operator by associating it with its id.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The association of MRSA endophthalmitis with visual outcome has been variable, with some studies reporting no association while others associating it with worse visual outcome [28, 92, 93].

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

Beginning in the 1920s, big business began to confuse the public and turn people against hemp by associating it with marijuana and its dangers or loss of morality.

Huffington Post

"It is, then, particularly fascinating to see the physical evidence of the Vyne ring, with its links to Tolkien through the inscription associating it with a curse".

The Guardian - Books

Associating it with a political movement, Mr. Maazel suggests, weakens its power.

The New York Times - Arts

Located north of the celestial equator, its name is the Latin word for "charioteer", associating it with various mythological charioteers, including Erichthonius and Myrtilus.

Wikipedia

Many executives are wary of social business, associating it with unsustainable hype.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Schiller trained sixty-five people to fear a colored square by associating it with a shock.

The New Yorker

Elephant-shaped cookie cutter is packaged in a box associating it with the 1956 Republican National Convention.

Cornell University

There are suggestions that younger users enjoy the ritual of taking a drug in powder form, associating it with cocaine.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "associating it with", ensure that the connection you're making is clear and logical to your audience. Provide sufficient context to support the association.

Common error

Avoid "associating it with" vague or unsubstantiated concepts. This can weaken your argument and confuse readers. Make sure the association is concrete and supported by evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "associating it with" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically a gerund phrase acting as a prepositional complement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it connects an action (associating) to an object (it) and a related concept.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "associating it with" is a grammatically sound verbal phrase used to link or connect two entities, ideas or objects. Ludwig, corroborating this analysis through its examples, indicates that the phrase is frequently employed across various contexts, notably in news, science, and academia with a neutral to formal tone. The phrase serves to establish relationships and convey connections, though careful application is needed to ensure clarity and avoid overly broad associations. Consider alternative phrasing like "linking it with" for subtle shifts in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

linking it with

Focuses on a direct connection or relationship between two things.

connecting it with

Highlights the act of joining or establishing a relationship.

relating it to

Emphasizes the establishment of a relationship in terms of similarity or relevance.

tying it to

Suggests a strong or binding connection between two elements.

ascribing it to

Implies attributing a quality or characteristic to something.

attributing it to

Focuses on assigning a cause or origin to something.

identifying it with

Highlights the act of equating or seeing something as the same as another.

equating it with

Emphasizes the act of regarding something as equal or equivalent.

correlating it with

Indicates a statistical or causal relationship between two things.

imputing it to

Suggests assigning a quality or action, often negative, to someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "associating it with" in a sentence?

Use "associating it with" to link a concept, idea, or thing to another, implying a relationship or connection. For example: "The study involved associating specific genes with certain diseases."

What are some alternatives to "associating it with"?

You can use alternatives like "linking it with", "connecting it with", or "relating it to" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "associate it with" instead of "associating it with"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different functions. "Associate it with" is often used in imperative or infinitive constructions, while "associating it with" is used as a gerund or participle, often within a larger clause.

What's the difference between "associating it with" and "attributing it to"?

"Associating it with" implies a connection or relationship, while "attributing it to" implies assigning a cause or characteristic. "Associating it with" is broader, while "attributing it to" is more specific in assigning responsibility or origin.