designates to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "designates to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "designate" does not require "to" when indicating assignment or appointment. Example: "The committee designates John as the new leader."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Deputy Inspector Roy T. Richter, the head of the Captains Endowment Association, the union that represents the upper echelons of city officers, said Inspector Bologna, who formerly led the 1st Precinct and now works in counterterrorism, would "cooperate with whatever investigative body the police commissioner designates to perform this review".

The New York Times

I mean actually, what we would like is to say – all right, this person has a given project that has been approved and that the PI for that project – the user for that project, and those he designates to work on the project – give assurances they are going to use the data only for that project".

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For example, if three of the five commissioner-designates to lose their jobs were women, Mr Barroso's much-trumpeted feminist credentials would take a knock.A Portuguese nightmareMr Barroso has no power to force countries to offer him a new candidate and several may take umbrage if they are told that their national champion is not up to the job.

The Economist

It was an intimate diary, but designated to sell oneself!

The New York Times

Talk story about John Hay Whitney, U.S. Ambassadors-Designate to England.

The New Yorker

The week is designated to teach compassionate attitudes toward animals throughout the world.

The New York Times

At his command, the group members who had been designated to practice speaking switched partners.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, January 19 , 1957P. 24 Talk story about John Hay Whitney, U.S. Ambassadors-Designate to England.

The New Yorker

We need a House of Commons that reflects the people it is designated to represent and serve.

The Guardian - Opinion

Of the money donated, $1,320 was designated to pay off the immigration fees.

The New York Times

Collinsworth is designated to ignite commentary from the two, both former running backs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "designates to" in formal writing. Instead, use "designates" followed directly by the object or person being designated. For example, "The committee designates John as the leader."

Common error

A common mistake is adding "to" after "designates", likely influenced by similar verbs. Remember that "designate" typically doesn't require "to" when indicating assignment. Simply use "designate" followed by the person or thing being assigned.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "designates to" is intended to function as a verb phrase, aiming to express the act of assigning or appointing someone or something to a specific role or task. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the inclusion of "to" is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "designates to" attempts to convey the act of assigning or appointing, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct usage is simply "designates" without the preposition "to". Though some instances appear in news and scientific contexts, it's best to use alternatives like "assigns", "appoints", or "allocates" for clarity and grammatical accuracy, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

designates

This is very similar in meaning but removes the incorrect preposition.

assigns

This is a direct synonym, focusing on the action of giving someone a task or responsibility.

appoints

This suggests a formal selection for a role or position.

allocates

This is used when assigning resources or a specific quantity of something.

delegates

This implies entrusting a task or responsibility to someone else.

nominates

This refers to formally suggesting someone for a position.

entrusts

This emphasizes the aspect of giving someone responsibility and trust.

commissions

This indicates formally ordering or authorizing something.

selects

This highlights the choice of someone for a specific purpose.

details

This focuses on providing specific information for an assignment.

FAQs

Is "designates to" grammatically correct?

No, "designates to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is simply "designates". For instance, instead of "The committee designates to John the task", say "The committee designates John the task".

What is the correct way to use "designate" in a sentence?

Use "designate" followed directly by the object or person being assigned or appointed. For example, "The president designates a day for national celebration" is correct.

What can I use instead of "designates to"?

You can use alternatives like "assigns", "appoints", or "allocates" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "designates" and "assigns"?

"Designates" and "assigns" are very similar. "Designate" often implies a more formal or official assignment, while "assigns" can be more general. Both are used to give someone a task or role.