instruct to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instruct to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it lacks a direct object or a clear context. Example: "Please instruct the team to complete the project by Friday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He jokes to relieve tension, to instruct, to make a point.

The New York Times

A direct competitor to Amazon's Echo, Home is a small cylindrical speaker that you place on your coffee table and instruct to listen to everything you say.

The Guardian - Tech

In fact, Evergreen intended to and did instruct to send that money overseas to Forex, which only returned funds to First Equity once".

The New York Times

"The bride and groom will need to consider who to instruct to prepare the Pre-Nuptial Agreement just as they will have to choose who will be their photographer, florist or dress designer.

Independent

It couldn't.' 'But if it did?" 'We would ask the shaman what to do.' 'What might he instruct?' 'To sacrifice an animal, so the village eats well, and we can all get drunk.' I began to understand, or thought I did: there was no good and evil, just onjesta and pragata and their tricky identification and management.

The Guardian - Travel

Pages TPFMA and ERSCA of MAPA detect the partition of train 1118 at location 3,001 and instruct to apply the emergency brake.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"I was instructed to stop shooting".

The New Yorker

Davis was instructed to avoid extreme fatigue.

The New York Times

I was instructed to stop.

The New York Times - Style

Instructed to go to in-laws'.

The New York Times

"We were instructed to play it.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of "instruct to", use more grammatically correct alternatives like "direct [someone] to", "tell [someone] to", or "advise [someone] to" for clearer and more professional writing.

Common error

Avoid using "instruct to" because it lacks a direct object after "instruct". A correct structure requires a direct object (the person being instructed) followed by "to" + the action. For example, write "instruct the team to..." instead of "instruct to...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instruct to" is often intended to serve as an imperative, directing someone towards a specific action. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect as noted by Ludwig AI, because it misses a direct object. Example: "Instruct the team to finish."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "instruct to" appears with some frequency across diverse sources, including news and scientific publications, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct usage requires a direct object specifying who is being instructed (e.g., "instruct the team to"). Thus, it is better to opt for grammatically sound alternatives, such as "direct to" or "tell to", to guarantee clarity and correctness in formal communication. Ignoring the missing direct object will result in usage that is considered incorrect in standard written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

direct to

This phrase is a more concise and grammatically sound way of indicating that someone is being told where to go or what to do.

order to

Implies a command or authoritative instruction, suggesting a higher degree of control or power dynamic.

guide to

Suggests a supportive and informative approach, focusing on leading someone through a process.

advise to

Implies giving a recommendation or suggestion, rather than a strict command or order.

recommend to

This phrase offers a suggestion based on expertise or experience, without necessarily implying compliance.

tell to

A very direct and simple way of conveying an instruction. Can sound less formal than other options.

ask to

Implies a polite request rather than a command or instruction.

assign to

Focuses on delegating a task or responsibility to someone, implying a formal allocation of work.

charge to

Implies entrusting someone with a specific duty or responsibility, often with a sense of importance.

authorize to

Suggests granting official permission or power to someone to perform a certain action.

FAQs

How can I use "instruct" correctly in a sentence?

To use "instruct" correctly, include a direct object (the person or group being instructed) before the infinitive. For example, instead of the incorrect "instruct to go", say "instruct the students to go".

What are some alternatives to "instruct to"?

You can use alternatives like "direct to", "order to", or "advise to" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "instruct to"?

No, "instruct to" is not grammatically correct. The verb "instruct" requires a direct object (the person or group being instructed) before the infinitive. The correct usage is "instruct someone to do something".

What's the difference between "instruct to" and "instruct someone to"?

"Instruct to" is grammatically incorrect. "Instruct someone to" is the correct form, where "someone" is the direct object receiving the instruction. For instance, "I instructed him to complete the task" is correct.