be of help to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'be of help to' is correct and usable in written English.
You use this phrase to describe something or someone that provides assistance or support. For example: "The doctor was of help to me when I needed advice on my health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Perhaps I may be of help to you.

The New Yorker

It is hoped that the current results can be of help to related system designs.

Energy Conversion and Management

This prognostic biomarker may be of help to personalize care of the intestinal transplant recipient.

Experimental and Molecular Pathology

This database will be of help to discriminate between pathologic and healthy fetuses.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Having cleared up that lie, perhaps they could now be of help to the Writers Guild.

The New York Times - Magazine

In no way can I be of help to President Obama.

The Guardian - Books

"They also believe their relationship with Iran could be of help to the Obama Administration.

The New Yorker

This aspect of smoking would be of help to Mr. Obama, too.

The New York Times

This is important and can certainly be of help to the global gratitude movement.

University of California, Berkeley

Henrik Lundqvist registered 39 saves while his team-mates accomplished virtually nothing that could be of help to him.

The Guardian - Sport

There were two other developments that might be of help to get the economy through a difficult patch.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be of help to", consider the context. It's suitable for formal situations but can sound overly polite in casual conversation. Choose more direct alternatives like "help" or "assist" for a more natural tone.

Common error

Avoid unnecessarily using "be of help to" in passive constructions. Instead of saying "The information will be of help to you", a more direct and active form like "The information will help you" is often clearer and more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be of help to" functions as a predicate adjective describing something or someone's capability of providing assistance or support. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

53%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be of help to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for indicating assistance or support. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness. While versatile, it leans towards a neutral-to-formal register and is prevalent in news, scientific, and academic domains. When writing, consider the audience and context, opting for more direct alternatives like "help" or "assist" in informal settings. Be mindful of passive voice overuse, and instead, prioritize clear and active constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer assistance to

A more direct and formal way of offering help.

be of service to

Implies a willingness to assist in a more formal or professional capacity.

lend assistance to

A slightly more formal and emphatic way to offer help.

provide support for

Focuses on the act of giving support, whether emotional, financial, or practical.

assist

A more concise way of saying "be of help to", focusing on the act of providing support.

aid

Similar to assist, but can imply a more significant or crucial form of help.

give a hand to

A more informal way of offering help, suggesting a willingness to participate directly.

contribute to

Suggests being helpful as a part of a larger effort.

make a contribution to

Implies a helpful action that adds value or benefits a specific goal.

pitch in

An informal expression meaning to help with something.

FAQs

How can I use "be of help to" in a sentence?

Use "be of help to" to indicate that someone or something is providing assistance or support. For example, "This guide will "be of help to" new students navigating the campus."

What are some alternatives to "be of help to"?

Alternatives include "assist", "aid", "support", or simply "help", depending on the level of formality and the specific context.

Is "be of help to" formal or informal?

"Be of help to" is generally considered more formal. In informal settings, using "help" directly is often more appropriate and sounds more natural.

What's the difference between "be of help to" and "help"?

"Help" is a direct action verb, while "be of help to" is a more descriptive phrase. "Help" is generally more concise and commonly used, whereas "be of help to" is more formal and can add a layer of politeness or deference.