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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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be applied on

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be applied on" is not correct in standard written English; the correct form is "be applied to." You can use it when discussing the application of a method, rule, or substance to a specific subject or object.
Example: "The new regulations will be applied to all employees starting next month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How might this theory be applied on a global scale?

News & Media

The New York Times

The German merger model is not a template that can be applied on a European scale.

News & Media

The Guardian

The editing lessons are not necessarily going to be applied on a new film.

News & Media

The New York Times

The same principles should be applied on the internet as well.

News & Media

The Economist

And we have argued that the same principles should be applied on the internet.

News & Media

The Economist

Theorem 2.1 can be applied on an arbitrary time scale.

Radiation technology can be applied on an industrial scale [9].

Unlike vermicompost, vermicompost tea can be applied on plant directly.

This index can be applied on any foredune.

Although this technique is widely used even in industrial processes it cannot be applied on line.

The framework will be applied on three datasets in the "Results and discussion" section.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "be applied to" instead of "be applied on" for grammatically correct writing. Remember that "to" is a preposition indicating direction or purpose.

Common error

The preposition "on" often indicates a surface or state. Using "on" instead of "to" after "applied" creates grammatical errors, as "to" correctly indicates the recipient or target of the application.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be applied on" functions as a passive verb construction where an action is directed towards a subject. According to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "be applied to".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be applied on" is frequently used, as seen in the Ludwig examples, but it's grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "be applied to". This error commonly occurs due to confusion with prepositions. While various sources, including news and scientific publications, use the incorrect phrase, it's essential to use "be applied to" for grammatically sound writing. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical error, emphasizing the importance of using the correct preposition. Alternatives like "be implemented on" can be used depending on the context, but they still have to be reviewed for grammatical correctness.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "be applied on"?

The correct phrasing is "be applied to". The preposition "to" should be used instead of "on".

What's a more formal alternative to "be applied on"?

While "be applied on" is grammatically incorrect, a formal alternative to the correct phrase, "be applied to", could be "be brought to bear upon".

What can I say instead of "be applied on" in a technical context?

In a technical context, you can use "be implemented on", although technically incorrect and should be replaced by "be implemented on". Other good choices are "be used on" or "be utilized on" - although both of the options are grammatically incorrect.

Is "be applied on" ever correct?

No, "be applied on" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is "be applied to".

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: