Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
distributed freely
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"distributed freely" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of distributing something without charge or cost. For example: "The charity organization distributed food and other supplies freely to those in need."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Wiki
Alternative expressions(20)
circulated freely
donated freely
made available at no cost
provided gratis
given away without charge
openly accessible
delivered freely
published freely
administered freely
transmitted freely
allocated freely
dispersed freely
disseminated freely
dispensed freely
generated freely
wrote freely
circulating freely
diffuse freely
available freely
distributions freely
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
26 human-written examples
Once in the institutions, "many of the medicines which finally arrive...and which should be distributed freely among patients is taken by health personnel for private use or distribution among friends and relatives.
Science
The underlying code for open-source software is distributed freely, rather than being owned by a single company.
News & Media
One is that cash should be distributed freely, and not lent through the banking system at interest, as nefarious central bankers do, so he wants to begin doling out regular payments of simecs to families.
News & Media
The Unix operating system was developed at AT&T's Bell Laboratories in the early 1970s and had been distributed freely to government organisations and universities for use in their mainframes.
News & Media
The British-born designer, 73, has created typefaces for newspapers (including The New York Times), phone books and computer companies; he designed the fonts Verdana and Georgia that Microsoft added to Windows in 1996 and later distributed freely.
News & Media
Such faxes were being distributed freely in places like outside the Regent's Park mosque, in central London, at the time, but it, along with Al Fadl's testimony on EIJ's supposed al-Qaida links, was enough for the US to conclude that Abdel Bary was involved.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
33 human-written examples
Peritubal adhesions prevent contrast material from spilling into the abdominal cavity and distributing freely [8, 9].
Science
Postoperative pneumoperitoneum is a common, expected finding which typically distributes freely and resolves within a few days.
Science
Fractal dimensionality was quantified using the calcFD toolbox (http://cmadan.github.io/calcFD/), which we previously developed and distribute freely [21, 24].
Science
The results show that the combined T junctions under fixed inlet and outlet boundary conditions form a single hydraulic equilibrium system in which the fluid energy distributes freely till a balance is achieved.
Following AH, air may either distribute freely in the peritoneal cavity or collect in the operated subperitoneal spaces, and typically resolves within a week but decreases on serial imaging.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Consider the connotation of "freely". It suggests not only a lack of cost, but also a lack of restriction. Ensure this aligns with your intended meaning.
Common error
Just because something is "distributed freely" doesn't mean it's legal to do so. Copyrighted material, for instance, might be illegally distributed without cost.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "distributed freely" functions as a verb phrase modifier, specifying the manner in which something is distributed. It indicates that the distribution occurs without any cost or restriction. Ludwig confirms its acceptability.
Frequent in
Science
44%
News & Media
44%
Wiki
12%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "distributed freely" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to express that something is being given or made available at no cost and without restrictions. Ludwig confirms the acceptability of the phrase. While it appears across various domains, it is most frequently used in scientific and news contexts. Remember that just because something is "distributed freely" doesn't automatically mean it's legal, so consider the context carefully. You can use alternatives like "circulated freely" or "donated freely" depending on the nuance you intend to express.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
circulated freely
Focuses on the movement and accessibility of something without restrictions.
donated freely
Emphasizes the act of giving something as a gift or contribution without expecting anything in return.
provided gratis
Uses a more formal term ('gratis') to indicate something is supplied without charge.
given away without charge
Explicitly states that something is given without any cost involved.
made available at no cost
Highlights the accessibility of something without financial burden.
openly accessible
Emphasizes the unrestricted access to something, often information or resources.
supplied complimentary
Indicates that something is offered as a courtesy or perk without extra charge.
shared unreservedly
Focuses on the lack of hesitation or limitation in sharing something.
bestowed without payment
Uses more formal language to describe the act of granting something freely.
offered without obligation
Indicates that there are no strings attached to the offer of something.
FAQs
How can I use "distributed freely" in a sentence?
You can use "distributed freely" to describe how something is given out at no cost. For example, "The software is "distributed freely" under the GNU General Public License".
What's a good substitute for "distributed freely"?
Alternatives include "circulated freely", "donated freely", or "made available at no cost", depending on the nuance you want to convey.
Is it redundant to say "distributed freely for free"?
Yes, saying "distributed freely for free" is redundant. The word "freely" already implies that there is no cost involved.
What does it mean when software is "distributed freely"?
When software is "distributed freely", it typically means it is available for use without payment, often with some stipulations about modification or redistribution.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested