by modify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by modify" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an attempt to express the action of modifying something, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "You can improve the document by modifying the layout for better readability."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By "modify" we mean to insert wrong information, or to alter or remove existing information.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Different shapes could be made by modifying the basic geometry.

The New Yorker

Operationally, these perturbations were introduced by modifying the corresponding ODEs.

Nature

The WSRI will begin by modifying current courses.

MIT Technology Review

Eliminate this problem by modifying the on-disk inode structure.

Stanford University

All long term learning is achieved by modifying this file.

Princeton University

Excessive false negatives is fixed by modifying the sensitivity.

Cornell University

Microsoft developed the software by modifying existing systems.

The New York Times - Arts

So one could make them react more rationally by modifying the anchor.

The Guardian

The idea can always be reused later by modifying it to add new brands.

The New York Times

"My job is to try and prevent human disease by modifying behavior and killing mosquitoes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically incorrect phrase "by modify", use phrases like "by altering", "by adjusting", or "through modification" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "by modify" as it is grammatically incorrect. Always use the gerund form of the verb (e.g., "by modifying") or a noun form (e.g., "through modification") to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by modify", while technically incorrect, attempts to function as a prepositional phrase indicating the method or means by which something is achieved. Ludwig's examples show its intended use, though the phrase requires grammatical correction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by modify" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, it should be replaced with "by modifying", "through modification", or similar alternatives to ensure correct usage. Although examples of its use exist in various contexts like science, news, and academia, it is crucial to use the grammatically correct forms to maintain clarity and credibility. The best practice is to use "by" followed by the gerund form of the verb or "through" followed by the noun form. Therefore, writers should always use "by modifying" or "through modification" instead of "by modify".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by altering

Replaces "modify" with "altering", emphasizing a change in form or character.

through modification

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, focusing on the process of modification.

by adjusting

Substitutes "modify" with "adjusting", highlighting fine-tuning or adaptation.

by adapting

Replaces "modify" with "adapting", emphasizing changes to suit new conditions.

by changing

Uses "changing" instead of "modify", indicating a more general alteration.

by revising

Substitutes "modify" with "revising", suggesting a careful examination and correction.

by amending

Replaces "modify" with "amending", indicating a formal correction or improvement.

through alteration

Uses the noun form of "alter", focusing on the result of changing something.

by transforming

Emphasizes a significant change in form or appearance.

by tweaking

Uses a more informal term, "tweaking", to suggest making small adjustments.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of "by modify" in a sentence?

Instead of "by modify", use grammatically correct phrases such as "by modifying", "by altering", or "through modification".

What are some alternatives to "by modify" that sound more natural?

More natural-sounding alternatives include "by adjusting", "by adapting", and "by changing".

Is "by modify" grammatically correct?

No, "by modify" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "by modifying" or "through modification".

What's the difference between "by modify" and "by modifying"?

"By modify" is grammatically incorrect, while "by modifying" is the correct form. The latter uses the gerund form of the verb after the preposition "by".