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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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divide whether

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "divide whether" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of terms and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English usage. Example: "We need to divide whether to allocate resources to project A or project B."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This will provide a made-for-TV opportunity for you to demonstrate whether you seek to lead or divide; whether you are truly guided by providence or just naked ambition and ignorance and, ultimately, whether you belong in Washington or nearby Salem.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Causation aside, this attitudinal divide, whether historical in basis or not, will dictate the ability of equity crowdfunding platforms to exist in Africa until regulation is in place.

News & Media

Forbes

"We have a little bit of a divide, whether you're Chicano, Korean American, Cambodian American, whatever.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

The future of Turkish democracy depends on the ability of its religious and secular citizens to reach across the divide, whether between secular and religious women who want to secure a better future for themselves and their daughters, or between the republican and Islamist businessmen who both want to secure the conditions of their common profitability.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Economists are divided whether the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates when it reviews monetary policy on Sept. 4.

News & Media

The New York Times

Research suggests that this kind of contact can make it easier to identify with people from whom we're often divided, whether by race, ethnicity, or social class.

Ultimately, it's about how tech companies' profits and risks are divided, whether they benefit investors or couriers.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Experts are sharply divided whether an arrest or complaint should take place now.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Historians have traditionally been divided whether patronage, meaning appointments made without a merit system, should be labelled corruption.

But Liberians are divided about whether Taylor should qualify.

News & Media

The Guardian

Opposition parties are divided on whether to participate.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "divide whether". Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "divided on whether" or restructure your sentence for clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "divide whether" when the intended meaning is to express a division of opinion or uncertainty. To avoid this, use phrases such as "divided on whether", "split on whether", or "unsure whether" instead.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divide whether" functions as a conjunction phrase aiming to connect the concept of division with a condition or question. However, according to Ludwig AI, the construction is ungrammatical and requires correction for proper usage. Instead, the examples show instances where a correct form is "divided on whether".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

23%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "divide whether" is considered grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig AI. While it appears in some contexts, especially within news and media, it is best avoided. The correct way to express the intended meaning – a division of opinion or uncertainty – is to use phrases like "divided on whether" or to restructure the sentence. Using the correct phrasing ensures clarity and maintains professionalism across various communication contexts. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate the appropriate use of alternatives.

FAQs

What is a better way to phrase "divide whether"?

Instead of "divide whether", use grammatically correct alternatives like "divided on whether" or "split on whether" to express a division of opinion. You can also rephrase the sentence to use "debate whether".

Is "divide whether" grammatically correct?

No, "divide whether" is not grammatically correct. It's best to use phrases like "divided on whether" or restructure the sentence for better clarity.

How can I use "divided on whether" in a sentence?

You can use "divided on whether" to indicate a split in opinion. For example: "Experts are divided on whether an arrest should take place now."

What's the difference between "divide whether" and "divided on whether"?

"Divide whether" is grammatically incorrect, while "divided on whether" is a correct and commonly used phrase to express that opinions are split regarding a particular matter.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: