by alerting them to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by alerting them to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that you are making someone aware of something important or relevant. Example: "The teacher helped the students improve their grades by alerting them to the resources available for extra study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It protects people by alerting them to things that might injure them.

The Economist

An intracardiac electrogram monitoring device may be beneficial in high-risk patients by alerting them to rapidly progressive ST-segment changes indicative of acute coronary occlusion.

American Heart Journal

The system gave Giants batters an advantage by alerting them to the pitch -- fastball, curveball -- the opposing pitcher was about to throw.

The New York Times

Often by alerting them to what is going on, they will be willing to modify an assignment to help your child complete it himself.

The New York Times - Health

Authorities said that Gondo, known as "GMoney," helped five others charged with selling and dealing drugs avoid law enforcement by alerting them to police surveillance and investigations.

The Washington Post

The Royal Free added: "The Streams app was built in close collaboration with clinicians to help prevent unnecessary deaths by alerting them to patients in need in a matter of seconds.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

First, healthcare providers at the program contacted potential participants by letter alerting them to the study and asking those interested in participating to telephone the first author (HAB).

BMC Women's Health

High concentration patches of signaling molecules are sensed by local animals, alerting them to the risk of attack from predators, resulting in modified behavior with cascading effects on coastal ecosystems.

Princeton University

Stuart Bateman, managing director of Batemans, said he first learned of Yellow Belly when he was called by Omnipollo two months ago alerting them to the issue, and had not been contacted since a "friendly" initial discussion.

BBC

There is also the Schengen Information Service, which is highly valued by UK officials for alerting them to suspects crossing borders.

BBC

All GPs registered with the participating Divisions of General Practice were emailed, by their Division secretary, alerting them to the study.

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "by alerting them to", ensure that the information you are alerting them to is clearly and concisely stated. The purpose of the alert should be immediately evident to the recipient.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "by alerting them to" without specifying what they are being alerted to. For example, instead of saying "The system helps by alerting them to issues", specify what issues, such as "The system helps by alerting them to potential security breaches".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by alerting them to" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a means or method. It indicates how someone achieves a particular outcome, typically involving providing information or a warning. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is correct and suitable for conveying the action of making someone aware of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by alerting them to" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to describe the act of making someone aware of something. While considered uncommon in frequency, according to Ludwig, its presence is notable across varied sources such as News & Media, Science, and Academia. This phrase serves the purpose of explaining the methodology behind an action and is commonly used in neutral and informative contexts. When incorporating this phrase in your writing, ensure you clearly state what is being brought to someone's attention to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by informing them of

Uses "informing" which is a direct synonym of "alerting" focusing on the action of conveying information.

by notifying them about

Replaces "alerting" with "notifying", which emphasizes a formal communication.

by making them aware of

Changes the structure to use "making aware", highlighting the state of being informed.

by warning them of

Emphasizes a sense of caution or potential danger in the information being conveyed.

by advising them of

Suggests a more consultative or guiding role in providing the information.

by pointing out to them

Focuses on directing attention to a specific detail or fact.

by communicating to them

Highlights the process of sharing information more broadly.

by signaling to them

Implies a subtle or indirect way of providing information.

by indicating to them

Emphasizes that something is shown or pointed out, possibly indirectly.

by cueing them in on

Uses a more informal term, "cueing", suggesting giving a hint or signal.

FAQs

How can I use "by alerting them to" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is making others aware of something. For example, "The software improves safety by alerting them to potential hazards".

What are some alternatives to "by alerting them to"?

You can use alternatives like "by informing them of", "by notifying them about", or "by making them aware of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "alerting to them" instead of "by alerting them to"?

No, "alerting to them" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "by alerting them to", where "to" is a preposition indicating what they are being alerted about.

What's the difference between "by alerting them to" and "by warning them of"?

While both phrases involve informing someone, "by alerting them to" is a general term for making someone aware, whereas "by warning them of" specifically implies informing them of a potential danger or negative outcome.