if it is useful

USAGE SUMMARY

This part of a sentence is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it if you are making a conditional statement. Example sentence: I will keep the item if it is useful.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"I don't know if it is useful for us to point fingers at any one person," Mrs. Clinton said, showing uncharacteristic restraint.

The New York Times

If it is useful, they use it.

Huffington Post

Feel free to use this model if it is useful to you.

Huffington Post

Not everything will apply to you and your exam, so use your judgement to decide if it is useful or not.

WikiHow

"In our opinion the space exists if it is useful," said the festival's general manager, Giorgio Gosetti, who called defining a first-year festival a major challenge.

The New York Times

Therefore, they can consult with reservoir administrators if it is useful results for operations.

Journal of Hydrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

A social network is only going to be used if it's useful.

The Economist

You can also have him look at items (by using the item on him) and he'll tell you if it's useful.

WikiHow

'I don't know if it's useful or not.

The Guardian - Film

"As she ends up saying: 'If it's useful, it's true.

The New York Times - Arts

You have to collect, process, translate, move it down the funnel, transform it from noise into a signal, before you know if it's useful".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if it is useful", ensure the context clearly defines what 'it' refers to, avoiding ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "if it is useful" without a clear antecedent for "it". Always specify what you are referring to in order to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if it is useful" functions as a conditional clause, introducing a condition that must be met for the main clause to be true. This is a common way to express that something's value or applicability depends on its utility. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if it is useful" is a grammatically correct and frequently used conditional clause across diverse contexts. As verified by Ludwig, it serves to introduce a condition based on the perceived utility or helpfulness of something. While appropriate in both formal and informal settings, it's crucial to ensure clarity by explicitly defining what "it" refers to. Common synonyms include "if it is helpful", "if it is beneficial", and "if it is valuable", each offering subtle nuances in meaning. In short, "if it is useful" is a practical way to express conditional utility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if it is beneficial

Replaces "useful" with a synonym emphasizing advantage or gain.

if it is helpful

Replaces "useful" with a more general term for providing assistance or aid.

if it is worthwhile

Substitutes "useful" with a term highlighting the value or merit of something.

if it is valuable

Emphasizes the importance and worth of something instead of just its utility.

if it is advantageous

Focuses on the favorable or helpful nature of something in a particular situation.

if it is effective

Changes the focus to whether something produces the desired result.

if it is relevant

Highlights the pertinence and applicability of something to the matter at hand.

should it prove useful

Inverts the sentence structure for a more formal tone.

assuming it is useful

Introduces an assumption about the utility of something.

provided that it is useful

Uses a more formal conditional clause.

FAQs

How can I use "if it is useful" in a sentence?

Use "if it is useful" to introduce a condition under which something will be employed or valued. For example, "I will keep this tool "if it is useful" for future projects."

What's a synonym for "if it is useful"?

Synonyms include "if it is helpful", "if it is beneficial", or "if it is valuable", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "if it's useful" or "if it is useful"?

Both "if it's useful" and "if it is useful" are grammatically correct. The contracted form "if it's useful" is more informal, while "if it is useful" is slightly more formal.

How does "if it is useful" differ from "if it was useful"?

"If it is useful" refers to a present or future condition, while "if it was useful" refers to a past condition. For instance, "If it is useful, I will keep it" (present/future) versus "if it was useful, I would have kept it" (past).