collect by

USAGE SUMMARY

It could potentially be part of a sentence, but it would need to be followed by a subject and verb.
For example, "The rent is due this week, so please collect by Friday" is a complete sentence. In this context, the phrase "collect by" means to gather or obtain something by a specific time or date.

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Many aficionados collect by subject.

The New York Times - Arts

And when a consumer does overdraw an account, banks have found a way to multiply the fees they collect by rearranging the sequence of transactions, critics say.

The New York Times

He took the pencil and blank from her and produced the following: "Wire collect by Western Union whether blessed event has taken place.

The New Yorker

"You have to give up your ego when you collect by consensus, but that doesn't mean that you don't stand up for what you believe in.

The New York Times - Magazine

Instead, most are contractors who are paid for each signature they collect by a handful of firms that specialise in organising petition drives for the lobbies.

The Economist

Those sums easily exceed the additional ¥12.5 trillion a year that Japan hopes to collect by eventually doubling the consumption, or sales, tax.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Connection data is collected by all OSNs.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Collected by Danielle Wright.

The Guardian

It houses tax information collected by HM Revenue and Customs HMRCC).

The Economist

His work was collected by museums internationally.

The New York Times

The beans are collected by farm workers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "collect by", ensure the context clearly indicates the method or means of collection. For example, "collect by hand" or "collect by survey" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "collect by" without specifying the means of collection. Saying simply "data was collected" is less informative than "data was collected by questionnaire."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collect by" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb, indicating the method or means by which something is collected. As seen in Ludwig, it specifies how an action of collecting is performed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

42%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collect by" serves to specify the method used in gathering or obtaining something. Ludwig's analysis indicates that, while grammatically debated, the phrase is commonly used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific domains. "Collect by" should be used with a clear indication of the method of collection to avoid ambiguity. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase, while not always grammatically perfect as a standalone sentence, finds frequent and acceptable usage when it specifies the means of collection within a broader context. Some alternative ways to express this concept include "gather through" or "obtain by means of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Obtain by means of

Focuses on the method used to get or secure something.

Acquire through

Stresses the process of coming to possess something by a certain method.

Gather through

Emphasizes the action of assembling or acquiring via a specific means.

Extract by

Implies obtaining something by carefully removing or separating it through a particular process.

Accumulate via

Highlights the gradual process of amassing something using a particular method.

Procure by

Implies effort or special means in obtaining something.

Compile via

Highlights the process of assembling information or data through a specific channel.

Harvest by

Suggests gathering or collecting something, often in the context of agriculture or natural resources.

Assemble by

Focuses on the act of putting together or gathering components through a defined method.

Reap by

Suggests obtaining a result or reward through specific actions or efforts.

FAQs

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

Use "collect by" to indicate the method or means through which something is gathered, like in the sentence: "Samples were "collected by trowels"".

What does "collect by" mean?

"Collect by" indicates the method used to gather or obtain something. For example, "You can only carry four spells, which you "collect by smashing rare items" throughout the environment infused with magic".

Is it better to use "collect through" instead of "collect by"?

Both "collect by" and "collect through" can be used, but "collect by" is more specific to the means used for collection, whereas "collect through" suggests a more indirect method. For example, "Information on movement, migration and mortality has been collected that would be difficult or impossible to "collect by any other means"".

What are some alternatives to "collect by"?

Alternatives include "gather through", "obtain by means of", or "acquire through", depending on the specific context.