if not applicable

USAGE SUMMARY

"if not applicable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a suggested strategy, instruction, or rule does not apply in a particular situation. For example, "Please fill out the form to the best of your ability; if not applicable, please leave the section blank."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Leave amount blank if not applicable.

The Independent

As such, the metrics should be applicable to the entrepreneur's business, with the option of omitting information requested if not applicable.

Forbes

Survival times were measured from the date of the diagnosis of bladder cancer to the event date (or to the last available follow-up, if not applicable).

Clinical and Translational Medicine

This implies that both the French and Danish CGs, despite the lapse of eight years between their publication, are similarly unclear, with scarce information on children and adolescents, and are therefore poorly if not applicable.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

First, the idea behind the term mapping was to assign each ChemOnt category to an equivalent ChEBI term or, if not applicable, the closest ChEBI classes that do not have a parent child relationship to each other.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Her growth (even if she hits rock bottom first) from timid graduate to spoiled 30-something signifies something very crucial - if not applicable - to our society today.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Each item was scored positive if it was satisfactorily presented, negative if absent, or (na) if it was not applicable.

British Journal of General Practice

Participants indicated if an area was not applicable them, if for example, they had not had the opportunity to partake in that area in the last 12 months.

BMC Psychiatry

The subjects earn zero points if the description is not applicable, two points if it is highly applicable, and one if it is somewhat or sometimes true.

The New York Times - Health

The water companies – or to be precise, the sewerage companies – apply a charge to treat that water, and if it's not applicable, then you don't need to be paying for it.

The Guardian - Money

Also, the fact that if and is not applicable.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if not applicable" in forms or questionnaires, consider adding "N/A" as a fillable option to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "if not applicable" when you mean 'not available' or 'unknown'. "If not applicable" means the question or field genuinely does not apply to the situation, not that the information is missing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if not applicable" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a clause that specifies when a statement or instruction does not apply. Ludwig AI validates the correct usage of the term as a commonly used conditional conjunction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

21%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if not applicable" serves as a conditional conjunction, indicating when a statement or instruction does not apply. Ludwig AI confirms it’s grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, especially in scientific, formal, and news-related documents. When using "if not applicable", ensure it accurately reflects that a specific item is genuinely irrelevant, not merely unknown or unavailable. In practical applications, especially on forms, consider adding "N/A" for clarity. Alternatives include phrases such as "if it doesn't apply" or "if it is not relevant". Overall, the correct and precise use of "if not applicable" enhances clarity and avoids potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if it doesn't apply

Rephrases the condition using simpler language.

if it is not relevant

Focuses on the relevance of the subject matter.

if not pertinent

Uses a synonym for 'relevant' to indicate non-applicability.

unless relevant

Expresses a negative condition of relevance.

where inapplicable

Uses a more formal tone and a single word to convey non-applicability.

if this does not concern you

Shifts focus to the person affected.

when this does not hold

Implies that a condition or rule is not valid.

if the situation doesn't exist

Highlights the absence of a required situation.

if the case is dissimilar

Indicates that a comparison or connection is invalid.

if it’s unnecessary

Focuses on the lack of need for something.

FAQs

How do I use "if not applicable" in a sentence?

Use "if not applicable" to indicate that a piece of information or a step doesn't apply in a specific situation. For example, "Enter your previous address; "if not applicable", leave blank."

What is an alternative to saying "if not applicable"?

Alternatives include phrases like "if it doesn't apply", "if it is not relevant", or simply "N/A" (not applicable), depending on the context.

Is it better to use "if not applicable" or "not applicable"?

Both are acceptable. "Not applicable" (often abbreviated as N/A) is more concise and commonly used in forms and tables. "If not applicable" is more suitable for explanatory sentences.

What does "if not applicable" mean?

"If not applicable" means that a particular question, instruction, or rule does not apply to the situation being considered. It's used to acknowledge that some items are not universally relevant.