it obtains from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it obtains from" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
You can use it when trying to express that something is derived or acquired from a source, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "The information it obtains from various studies is crucial for our research."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It is one of the world's leading producers of nonferrous metals, treating ore taken from its own mines and ore it obtains from others.

Cornell University

The current dispute centers on what the building does with some of the fuel it obtains from Con Ed.

The New York Times

EPC legal manager Stuart Hendry says it sends a translated charge notification to the UK address it obtains from the DVLA.

The Guardian - Money

A multinational's ability to exploit its competitive advantages in an emerging market depends heavily on the quality of information it obtains from the market.

Harvard Business Review

Although Japanese newspapers have been careful not to put all their articles online free of charge, a generation has decided that the news it obtains from television, mobile phones and the internet is enough.

The Economist

If matching parties cannot be found, CurrencyFair itself will quote a rate that it obtains from wholesale markets, with a fee of about 0.5% added on.Another option is sending money from one phone to another.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

At half a billion dollars, the fine for the drug smuggling scandal seemed quite high, but it was merely revenue-neutral, requiring only that Google return the revenue that it obtained from its illegal activities.

Huffington Post

Scott wrote that the company based its decision on notes it obtained from a gynecologist Dunham had seen months earlier for abdominal pain.

Huffington Post

Evatar has real human cells in it, obtained from women undergoing surgery for other reasons.

MIT Technology Review

The RSPCA received £63.7m from bequests in 2014 – dwarfing the £43.1m it obtained from donations and other contributions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The UK parliament has published a cache of confidential Facebook documents it obtained from a plaintiff in a California lawsuit.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For improved clarity, consider using alternatives such as "it derives from" or "it acquires from". These alternatives are more common and may sound more natural to native English speakers.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of the phrase "it obtains from" can make your writing sound repetitive and less sophisticated. Vary your phrasing by using synonyms like "it derives from" or restructuring the sentence to avoid the phrase altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it obtains from" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of acquiring or receiving something from a specific source. As seen in Ludwig, various entities perform this action, such as a corporation obtaining ore or a company obtaining data.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it obtains from" serves to indicate the origin or source of something, but as Ludwig AI points out, it's not the most common or elegant choice. With only 10 examples found, its frequency is uncommon, and the advice is to prefer alternatives like "it derives from" or "it acquires from", especially in formal writing. While grammatically acceptable, overusing "it obtains from" can make your writing sound repetitive. Predominantly featured in News & Media and Academic contexts, using more varied language ensures clarity and sophistication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it derives from

Focuses on the origin or source of something; implies a direct lineage or causation.

it acquires from

Emphasizes the act of gaining or receiving something, often through effort or transaction.

it receives from

Highlights the act of being given or granted something, without necessarily implying effort.

it gets from

A more informal way of saying it acquires or receives, suitable for casual contexts.

it sources from

Focuses on identifying the supplier or origin from which something is obtained.

it extracts from

Implies a careful or deliberate process of removing or obtaining something from a larger source.

it gathers from

Suggests collecting information or resources from various places.

it collects from

Similar to 'gathers from', but may imply a more systematic or organized approach.

it draws from

Emphasizes using something as a resource or inspiration.

it takes from

Highlights the action of removing something from a source, sometimes implying a negative impact on the source.

FAQs

What is a more common alternative to "it obtains from"?

More common alternatives include "it derives from", "it acquires from", or "it receives from", depending on the specific context.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "it obtains from" to sound more natural?

Instead of saying "The company obtains data from surveys", try "The company gathers data through surveys" or "The company's data is sourced from surveys".

Is "it obtains from" grammatically incorrect?

No, "it obtains from" is not grammatically incorrect, but it's less frequently used compared to other similar phrases. It is an acceptable but somewhat awkward way to express where something is sourced or derived from.

What's the difference between "it obtains from" and "it derives from"?

While both phrases indicate the source of something, "it derives from" often implies a more direct or causal relationship, while "it obtains from" suggests a broader acquisition process.