be relative to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be relative to" is correct and usable in written English.
It means "to be related to/connected with/relevant to" a particular thing. For example, "The changes we make to the school policy will be relative to the safety of the students."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

; redefine the abundance array to be relative to APED.

Harvard University

Time would always be relative to that speed, whatever change you used to describe it.

The New York Times - Books

And if each thing is to be relative to that which thinks, that which thinks will be relative to an infinity of specifically different things.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Humour will be relative to our experiences, it develops through childhood and into adulthood.

Independent

But the urban-rural split seems to be relative to a different baseline in each region.

The New York Times

These measurements should then be relative to a global reference frame.

Advances in Space Research

MODULEPATH may be relative to the library path of the krb5 installation, or it may be an absolute path.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Does IQ? Should capacity assessments be relative to who the person was previously or assessed on an absolute scale?

Harvard University

In the United States, however, spending on infrastructure is only about half of what it used to be, relative to G.D.P.

The New Yorker

In theory, the less you weigh, the higher your VO2 max should be, relative to body weight.

The New York Times

Knowledge could only be relative to man's nature as a species and to his varying social and historical situations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be relative to", ensure clarity by specifying the reference point. For example, instead of saying "The cost is high", clarify with "The cost is high relative to the average income in this area".

Common error

A common mistake is using "be relative to" without specifying what the comparison is being made to. This can lead to ambiguity and confusion. Always clearly state what something is relative to. For example, instead of stating "The speed is slow", specify "The speed is slow relative to the industry standard."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be relative to" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a point of reference or comparison. It indicates that a quality, measurement, or assessment is understood or evaluated in relation to something else, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

28%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be relative to" serves as a crucial tool in English to express relationships of comparison, dependence, or relevance. Grammatically sound and deemed correct by Ludwig AI, it enjoys widespread use across diverse contexts, particularly in science, news media, and academia. To harness its power effectively, writers should always specify the reference point to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "be dependent on" or "be contingent upon" can be employed to add nuance, while remembering that "be related to" simply denotes a connection without the comparative aspect. By following these guidelines, communicators can wield "be relative to" with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be dependent on

This alternative emphasizes the reliance of one thing on another, highlighting a strong connection.

be contingent upon

Similar to "be dependent on", this phrase stresses conditionality, suggesting something relies on a specific condition.

be connected with

This alternative focuses on the association or link between two elements.

be linked to

Like "be connected with", it underscores a relationship, often causal or correlational.

be associated with

This phrase indicates a common occurrence or relationship without necessarily implying direct causation.

be proportional to

This alternative highlights a direct mathematical relationship between quantities.

be correlated with

This suggests a statistical relationship, implying that changes in one variable correspond to changes in another.

bear upon

A more formal alternative suggesting relevance or influence.

pertain to

Emphasizes the relevance or applicability of something to a specific subject or context.

have a bearing on

Implies that something has an influence or effect on a particular situation.

FAQs

How do I use "be relative to" in a sentence?

Use "be relative to" to indicate that something is understood or evaluated in comparison to something else. For example, "The success of the project will "be relative to" the resources available".

What's the difference between "be relative to" and "be related to"?

"Be relative to" implies a comparison or dependence, while "be related to" simply indicates a connection. For example, "The price is relative to the quality" suggests a price-quality comparison, whereas "The price is related to the cost of materials" indicates a connection or cause-and-effect relationship.

What can I say instead of "be relative to"?

You can use alternatives like "be dependent on", "be contingent upon", or "be proportional to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "relative to" a specific person?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it's important to ensure the context is clear. For example, "His progress is relative to his previous performance" indicates a comparison to his own past achievements.