by pinpointing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by pinpointing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of identifying or locating something with precision. Example: "The researchers improved their findings by pinpointing the exact source of the error in the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By pinpointing what goes wrong, their finding may provide a basis for devising new treatments.

The New York Times - Science

By pinpointing what goes wrong, their finding may provide a rational basis for devising new treatments.

The New York Times

And can you predict attrition by pinpointing changes in how a student uses a campus?

The New York Times

Another is the contention that such benefits, though expensive, can save money by pinpointing health problems at an early stage.

The New York Times - Health

I also wanted to challenge both myself and the reader by pinpointing the highlights of western drama.

The Guardian

A monitoring system using satellite pictures will then assist the eco-boats by pinpointing the problem areas.

The New Yorker

Users create the model by pinpointing the location of the hip, shoulder and tail on an image on a computer screen.

The New York Times - Science

BOO WEEKLEY Among the straightest long hitters off the tee, Weekley will also make his share of putts by pinpointing his irons to proper locations below the holes.

The New York Times - Sports

By pinpointing the damaged areas, they are beginning to understand the origins of the problem behaviors and learning disabilities linked to alcohol.

The New York Times - Science

And like all the best futurology it succeeds by pinpointing those discontinuous advances in technology that – while still only emergent – will come to dominate the societies to come.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Nicholson said his department would also hire a company to look for possible misuse of the stolen data by pinpointing suspicious use of identity information.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by pinpointing", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being precisely identified or located. This phrase works best when accuracy and detail are important.

Common error

Avoid using "by pinpointing" when a more general term like "identifying" or "finding" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by pinpointing" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It describes how an action is performed, emphasizing the precision and accuracy involved in the act of identifying something. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts, from scientific research to business strategy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by pinpointing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples reveals it is most often found in News & Media and Science contexts and serves to emphasize the precision and accuracy involved in identifying or locating something. While versatile, it is important to ensure it is used in contexts where such precision is genuinely relevant, as indicated by Ludwig AI.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by identifying

Focuses more on the general act of recognition rather than precise location.

by locating

Emphasizes the act of finding something's position.

through specifying

Highlights the act of defining something clearly and exactly.

via determining

Suggests a more investigative process to arrive at a precise identification.

by detecting

Implies discovering something that may not be immediately obvious.

by highlighting

Focuses on making something prominent or easily noticeable.

in ascertaining

Suggests a formal or careful process of finding something out for certain.

through diagnosing

Implies identifying a problem or condition, often in a medical or technical context.

by distinguishing

Focuses on recognizing the differences between multiple items or concepts.

in recognising

Stresses the act of acknowledging or being aware of something.

FAQs

How can I use "by pinpointing" in a sentence?

You can use "by pinpointing" to describe the act of precisely identifying something. For example, "The scientists advanced medical knowledge "by pinpointing" the specific gene responsible for the disease."

What can I say instead of "by pinpointing"?

You can use alternatives like "by identifying", "by locating", or "through specifying" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "by pinpointing" instead of "by finding"?

"By pinpointing" is more appropriate when you want to emphasize precision and accuracy in identifying something. "By finding" is more general.

What is the difference between "by pinpointing" and "by highlighting"?

"By highlighting" means to draw attention to something, while "by pinpointing" means to identify something with precision.