combined by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "combined by" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct phrase would be "combined with" or "combined through." Example: "The two chemicals were combined by heating them together in a controlled environment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The received signals are combined by the STC combiner, then decoded by the polar code decoder.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Both branch outputs are combined by means of a power combiner ZN2PD2-50-S+ ZN2PD2-50-S+ ZN2PD2-50-S+

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Moreover, the charges can be combined by summation only (i.e. no fractional combinations).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Two of the units were combined by a previous tenant, he said.

The New York Times

Then I took readings for absolutely everything – gas, electric and combined, by price, kilowatts and CO2 emissions.

The Guardian

And China, let's not forget, is projected to produce more graduates than the US and Europe combined by 2020".

The Guardian

The standard rises to 35.5 m.p.g. for cars and trucks combined by 2016.

The New York Times

Data was combined by census block in order to create a clear image.

The New York Times

Both scores are combined by a simple maximum aggregation.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

In this paper, our methods were combined by GMM likelihood.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

These systems' outputs are combined by using ROVER.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "combined with" for standard English usage. It is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Common error

Avoid using "by" after "combined" unless you are describing the agent performing the combination (e.g. "combined by researchers"). In most other contexts, "with" is the correct preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "combined by" functions as a passive construction, where an action (combining) is performed on a subject. Ludwig AI notes this usage is often considered grammatically incorrect in standard English, advising instead for phrases like "combined with".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "combined by" is frequently used but generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that the more appropriate alternative is "combined with". While examples of "combined by" appear in diverse sources, including science and news, its grammatical ambiguity suggests caution in formal writing. The primary issue involves preposition choice, with "with" being the standard preposition unless specifying the agent performing the combination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

combined with

This is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative.

merged with

Suggests a more complete blending of elements, where individual identities are less distinct.

joined by

Implies a physical or structural connection between elements.

linked by

Highlights a relationship or association that connects the elements.

united through

Emphasizes the unifying force or mechanism that brings elements together.

integrated into

Suggests a seamless incorporation of elements into a larger system or whole.

blended via

Focuses on the process of mixing or combining elements using a specific method.

coupled with

Indicates a close association or interaction between elements, often in a technical or scientific context.

amalgamated through

Suggests a merging of elements, often resulting in a new entity or structure.

synthesized from

Implies the creation of something new by combining different elements or components.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use with "combined"?

The correct preposition to use with "combined" is generally "with", as in "combined with". "Combined by" is only appropriate when specifying the agent that performed the combining action.

When is it appropriate to use "combined by"?

"Combined by" is appropriate when you want to specify who or what performed the action of combining. For example, "The data was "combined by researchers"".

What can I use instead of "combined by" in most cases?

In most cases, you can use "combined with" instead of "combined by". This is the grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative.

Is "combined by" grammatically correct?

According to standard English grammar, "combined by" is generally considered incorrect unless specifying the agent performing the combination. The preferred phrase is "combined with".