copy by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "copy by" is not correct and may not be used in written English.
If you are trying to express a request to have something copied, you could say "Please copy this document" or "Can I get this copied?".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Handwritten copy by Margaret Hunt.

Cornell University

Com'd'g ; copy by H. C. Fassett.

Stanford University

Handwritten copy by Margaret Raine Hunt.

Cornell University

She is said to keep a copy by her bed.

The Guardian

Does anyone have a digital copy, by chance?

The New York Times

And they would still turn in immaculate copy by six".

The Guardian - Film

(A copy by an unknown artist is on display here).

The New York Times - Arts

You can also order your free copy by calling 311.

Cornell University

(Sanjeev's highlighted copy). By Zhang, Bengio, Hardt, Recht, Vinyals.

Princeton University

You can get more information, or order a copy, by calling [phone].

The New York Times - Science

"Classified information was viewed in hard copy by the Secretary while in the office," it says.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To indicate how to get a copy, use "obtain a copy by" or "request a copy by" followed by the method (e.g., calling, emailing).

Common error

Avoid using "copy by" to indicate who created a copy. Instead, use "copied by [artist's name]" or "created by [artist's name]" to clearly denote authorship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "copy by" functions primarily as a component within larger prepositional phrases, often incorrectly attempting to denote authorship or means of acquisition. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically questionable. Examples like "Handwritten copy by Margaret Hunt" highlight the common, yet flawed, application of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "copy by" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. This analysis reveals that while the phrase is commonly used to denote authorship of a copy or the method of obtaining one, it is better to use alternatives such as "copied by", "created by", or "obtain a copy by [method]". To avoid ambiguity and ensure grammatical correctness, it is advisable to adopt the suggested alternatives, particularly in formal or professional writing. Given the varied contexts, the need for nuanced and accurate phrasing is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

copied by

Passive voice construction emphasizing the action of copying.

duplicate by

Focuses on the act of creating an exact replica.

reproduced by

Emphasizes the recreation of something.

version by

Highlights a specific rendition or interpretation.

obtained through

Focuses on the method of acquiring a copy.

available from

Indicates a source from which a copy can be acquired.

beside

Indicates something kept nearby.

created by

Emphasizes the originator of the copy.

inspired by

Highlights the source of inspiration for the copy.

derived from

Focuses on the origin or source material of the copy.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say who created a copy of something?

Instead of "copy by", use "copied by [artist's name]" or "created by [artist's name]". For example, "The painting is a "copy by another artist"" is more accurate than "The painting is a copy by another artist".

How can I correctly ask for instructions on getting a copy of something?

Use phrases like "obtain a copy by [method]" or "request a copy by [method]". For instance, "You can get a "copy by calling" [phone]" is grammatically sound.

What alternatives exist for describing a work inspired by another?

Instead of incorrectly phrasing it with "copy by", consider using "inspired by" or "derived from". For example, "It's not a 1:1 copy, but it's definitely "heavily inspired"" is a better way to phrase it.

Is it correct to use "copy by" to indicate proximity?

No, "copy by" is not appropriate for indicating something that is located nearby. Instead, use "kept by" or "beside". For example, "She is said to keep a "copy by her bed"" could be rephrased as "She is said to keep a copy beside her bed".