by somewhat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by somewhat" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, and its intended meaning is unclear without additional context. Example: "The results were affected by somewhat unexpected variables."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They got themselves arrested by somewhat perplexed Border Patrol agents.

The New Yorker

Sprewell's former Knicks teammates sat by, somewhat astonished.

The New York Times - Sports

Copper sheets are produced by somewhat similar methods of manufacture.

Britannica

In fact, traffic appears to have fallen by somewhat less.

The New York Times

The cases n = 1 and n = ∞ are also discussed by somewhat different methods.

Journal of Functional Analysis

Disaster was averted, and the dangerous chemicals were replaced by – somewhat – safer alternatives.

The Guardian

The price of gasoline, for example, would slowly rise by somewhat less than $3 a gallon.

The New York Times

A covalently linked macromolecular structure made up of stiff glycan strands crosslinked by somewhat flexible peptide bridges.

Nature

Facebook's research shows that the company's algorithm encourages this by somewhat prioritizing updates that users find comforting.

The New York Times

Both the tumultuous wedding scene and the song of the little foxes are undercut by somewhat mechanical repetitions of images.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The effect increased when spherical balls were superseded by somewhat-elongated projectiles.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "by somewhat" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "somewhat", "partially", or "to some extent".

Common error

Using "by somewhat" often adds unnecessary words and makes the sentence more convoluted. Streamline your writing by using single-word adverbs like "somewhat" directly modifying the verb or adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by somewhat" functions as a prepositional phrase, attempting to modify a verb or adjective by indicating a degree or extent. However, this construction is generally considered grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by somewhat" is frequently found across various sources, including news, science, and encyclopedias, as evidenced by Ludwig. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard English. Its intended function is to express a partial or limited effect, degree, or influence. Given its questionable grammatical status, it's advisable to replace it with clearer and more accepted alternatives like "somewhat", "partially", "to some extent", or "to a certain degree" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. Avoiding "by somewhat" will enhance the precision and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat

Without the preposition "by", "somewhat" acts as an adverb modifying an adjective or verb, making it grammatically correct.

partially

Directly expresses that something is only partly the case.

to a certain extent

Indicates a degree or limit to which something is true or effective. This avoids the grammatical awkwardness of "by somewhat".

to some degree

Similar to "to a certain extent", implying a partial effect or influence.

to a limited extent

Highlights the restricted nature of the effect or truth.

slightly

Indicates a small degree of difference or change.

relatively

Indicates that something is being compared to something else; implying a degree relative to that comparison.

comparatively

Similar to "relatively", emphasizing the comparison aspect.

in a way

Suggests a limited or qualified agreement or similarity.

up to a point

Implies that something is true or effective only to a certain limit.

FAQs

Is "by somewhat" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "by somewhat" is generally considered grammatically "incorrect" in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "somewhat" or "to some extent".

What are some alternatives to "by somewhat"?

You can replace "by somewhat" with phrases like "to a certain extent", "partially", or simply "somewhat" depending on the context.

When can I use "somewhat" without "by"?

You can use "somewhat" directly as an adverb to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. For example, "The task was somewhat challenging" is grammatically sound.

How can I improve the clarity of sentences that use "by somewhat"?

Replace "by somewhat" with clearer alternatives. For instance, instead of "The results were affected by somewhat unexpected variables," try "The results were partially affected by unexpected variables" or "The results were somewhat affected by unexpected variables".