helps

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "helps" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing assistance or support provided to someone or something. Example: "This new software helps streamline our workflow and improve productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Business

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hollywood film U-571 (2000), in which the Royal Navy's capture of an Enigma machine during the second world war is falsely attributed to an American crew (including chief engineer Jon Bon Jovi), was denounced in parliament by prime minister Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Film

U Myint Aye, aged 61, from Yangon, has a long track record of peaceful political activism.

The Guardian

Referring back to her iconic look in the Nothing Compares 2 U video – a huge international hit written by Prince – O'Connor admitted that she was asked by her label to reconsider her image for the 1990s video.

The Guardian - Music

In Britain, the US and France the top 1% have over the past 100 years seen their fortunes rise and fall and rise again in a U-shaped arc.

The Guardian - Business

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

Related: Spotify data hints at a 'musical midlife crisis' for 42-year-old music fans Spotify is now hoping to be the music service that helps you get fit, just as Apple and Google are hoping to run the smartwatches that help you get fit.

The Guardian - Tech

"This time it was União da Madeira, his eighth promotion, from the second division to the first tier (or seventh if we exclude last year as he was sacked before the end of the season): P. Ferreira 90-91, Académica 96-97, U. Leiria 97-98, Belenenses 98-99, Leixões 06-07, Arouca 12-13, Moreirense 13-14 and U. Madeira 14-15.

The Guardian - Sport

The U-6 number is around 13%, Yellen says.

The Guardian - Business

This is because building better infrastructure helps create jobs, building a stronger economy for us all.

The Guardian

What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.

The New York Times

Nothing helps.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "helps" to describe how something contributes to a positive outcome or assists in a process. For instance, "This tool "helps" streamline workflow and improve productivity."

Common error

While "helps" is versatile, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing. Opt for stronger verbs like "facilitates", "aids", or "enhances" to add sophistication to your language.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "helps" is as a verb, indicating the act of providing assistance or making something easier. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions to describe how something contributes to a positive outcome or facilitates a process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Lifestyle

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "helps" functions as a verb denoting assistance or facilitation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread utility across diverse contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider synonyms like "assists", "aids", or "facilitates" in formal settings to avoid overuse. Found frequently in news, business, and lifestyle content, "helps" remains a valuable term to describe supportive roles or beneficial effects, but context should determine if a more sophisticated synonym may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assists

Formal synonym, implies a more direct form of aid.

aids

Similar to assist but can also imply providing equipment or resources.

facilitates

Suggests making a process or action easier.

supports

Implies providing encouragement or resources.

contributes to

Indicates playing a part in achieving a result.

is instrumental in

Highlights a crucial role in a process or outcome.

serves to

Emphasizes the function or purpose of something.

promotes

Suggests encouraging or furthering something.

enables

Implies making something possible.

benefits

Focuses on the positive outcome or advantage provided.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "helps"?

You can use alternatives like "assists", "aids", or "facilitates" depending on the context.

How to use "helps" in a sentence?

Use "helps" to indicate that something provides assistance or makes a task easier. For example, "Regular exercise "helps" improve overall health."

When is it appropriate to use "helps" in writing?

"Helps" is appropriate in a variety of contexts, from informal conversations to professional reports. However, consider using more formal synonyms like "contributes to" or "promotes" in highly formal settings.

What's the difference between "helps" and "allows"?

"Helps" implies providing assistance or making something easier, while "allows" suggests granting permission or enabling a possibility. For example, "This tool "helps" users complete tasks faster," versus "This software "allows" users to access secure data."