based on their covers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "based on their covers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing judgments or decisions made regarding something, often books or albums, based solely on their outward appearance. Example: "Many people choose to read books based on their covers, assuming the design reflects the quality of the content inside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I picked things based on their covers.

Vice

Statistics say that most people do actually choose books based on their covers.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's no secret that magazines succeed or bomb based on their cover girls.

Huffington Post

Marker genes were chosen based on their potential to cover clinically relevant heterogeneity in CTC populations and included the epithelial-specific marker EPCAM; adhesion and invasion markers CDH1 and CDH2; markers specific for breast cancer subgroups CAV1, ESR1, GATA3, ERBB2 and GRB7; and the WBC marker PTPRC, the gene encoding for CD45.

British Journal of Cancer

That list ranks the most powerful actors, athletes, chefs and directors based on their media exposure (magazine covers, TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

To determine which talkers made the most money during the 12-month period, we turned to the 2006 edition of Forbes Celebrityy 100, which ranks the most powerful actors, athletes, chefs and talking heads based on their media exposure (magazine covers and TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

To determine which actors and actresses made the most money during the 12-month period, we turned to the 2006 edition of the Forbes Celebrityy 100 list, which ranks the most powerful actors, athletes, chefs and directors based on their media exposure (magazine covers and TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

To determine which comedians raked in the most money over the 12-month span, we turned to the 2007 edition of Forbes Most Powerful Celebrityy list, which ranks actors, athletes, models and comedians based on their media exposure (magazine covers as well as TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

To determine the world’s highest-paid actors and actresses, we turned to the 2005 edition of the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, which ranks the most powerful actors, models, chefs and directors based on their media exposure (magazine covers, TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

To determine which entertainers made the most money over the course of a year, we turned to the 2006 edition of the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, which ranks the most powerful actors, authors and directors based on their media exposure (magazine covers and TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

To determine which of the world's athletes were raking in the most, we turned to the 2005 edition of Forbes Celebrityy 100, which ranks the most powerful actors, models, athletes and directors based on their media exposure (magazine covers, TV and radio mentions), Web presence (number of Google hits) and earnings.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "based on their covers", ensure the context clearly indicates that decisions or judgments are being made primarily or solely on the visual appearance of the covers. This phrase often implies a superficial or quick assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "based on their covers" when other factors also significantly influence the decision. If the cover is just one element among many, a more nuanced phrase like "partially influenced by their covers" would be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "based on their covers" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It indicates the criterion or reason for a decision or action, specifically that the decision is predicated upon the appearance of the covers. Ludwig confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "based on their covers" is a prepositional phrase used to describe decisions made primarily on the visual appearance of covers, often of books or albums. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news and science. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it often carries a connotation of superficiality. Alternatives such as "judging by their covers" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates that the cover design was the main factor influencing the decision. Avoiding its use when other factors play significant roles maintains clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

judging by their covers

Replaces "based on" with "judging by", implying a decision made solely on appearances.

according to their covers

Substitutes "based on" with "according to", suggesting the cover is the source of information.

relying on their covers

Emphasizes the dependence on the cover as the deciding factor.

guided by their covers

Implies that the covers are directing the choice or judgment.

influenced by their covers

Highlights the impact of the covers on the decision-making process.

taking their covers into account

Suggests a more considered approach, but still focusing on the covers.

considering their covers

A more general phrase indicating that the covers are being taken into consideration.

assessing by their covers

Focuses on the evaluation aspect based on the covers.

evaluating by their covers

Similar to "assessing by", but emphasizes a formal evaluation.

opting for them based on their covers

Explicitly states that the selection was made due to the covers.

FAQs

What does "based on their covers" mean?

The phrase "based on their covers" implies making a decision or judgment primarily or solely on the visual appearance of the covers of something, such as books or albums.

Is it always negative to choose something "based on their covers"?

Not necessarily. While it often suggests a superficial approach, choosing "based on their covers" can sometimes lead to serendipitous discoveries or be a quick way to narrow down options when other information is limited.

What are some alternatives to "based on their covers"?

You can use alternatives like "judging by their covers", "according to their covers", or "relying on their covers" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to say something was selected "based on their covers"?

It's appropriate when the visual design of the cover was the primary or only factor considered in the selection process, especially when discussing books, albums, or magazines.