it prevails on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it prevails on" is not correct in standard written English.
You might be trying to express that something exerts influence or pressure on someone or something. Example: "The urgency of the situation prevails on the team to act quickly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However it's not necessarily the end of the road for the Tab 10.1 design disputes — FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller notes that after a hearing scheduled for early December Apple can still win a permanent injunction against Samsung's slate "over the D'889 tablet design patent if it prevails on the related part of its Rule 50 ("overrule-the-jury") motion".

TechCrunch

Still, the upshot of the ruling, if it prevails on appeal, is that Google will be expected in Italy to monitor the content it hosts.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Those claims are believed to be worth considerably less than what Oracle might have received had it prevailed on all of its allegations of copyright infringement – although, the lawyer for Oracle pointed out, there is no "fair use" exception over patents.

The Guardian - Tech

First, it prevailed on the question of whether ammonia should be listed as an ingredient.

The New York Times

The United States is betting about $263 million in 2010 that winning this campaign will help it prevail on the battlefield.

The New York Times

As part of the city's efforts before the appeals court, it prevailed on the notion that the hiring of 21 additional firefighters, something contemplated during the proceedings, was not justified.

The New York Times

While the White House eventually turned over some records to Congress, it prevailed on procedural grounds five months ago before the Supreme Court, which refused to order the remaining records released and sent the issue to a lower court.

The New York Times

NBC, the Olympics rights holder in the United States, knew that his race for the golds would be great theater, so it prevailed on the Games' organizers to hold swimming finals in the mornings in Beijing to capture live prime-time audiences in the States.

The New York Times - Sports

"Whenever we prevail, it usually prevails on the high end because they are so unreasonable in negotiations".

The New York Times

The group opposed a provision that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to rewrite mortgages, and it appears it will prevail on that front.

The New York Times

This demonstrates that the effect of heat refraction (Beardsmore 2004; Thakur et al. 2012; Rawling et al. 2013; "General description of heat flow density distribution" section), i.e., where heat flows more preferably along thermally conductive zones rather than it does along insulating ones, prevails on these regions.

Geothermal Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it prevails on" in formal writing. Opt for more standard alternatives such as "it succeeds in" or "it influences" for clearer communication.

Common error

A common error is to use "prevail" with "on" when a different preposition or phrasing is more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "it prevails on", consider using "it prevails in" or restructuring the sentence to use "it is prevalent". For instance, rather than saying "Uncertainty prevails on these heights", rephrase as "Uncertainty is prevalent in these heights".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it prevails on" functions as a verb phrase, where "prevails" is the verb and "on" is a preposition. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not considered correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it prevails on" appears in various sources such as news media and scientific articles, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended meaning is to convey dominance or influence, but more standard and accepted alternatives like "it succeeds in" or "it influences" should be preferred, particularly in formal writing. The phrase's rare usage and questionable grammatical standing make it a less desirable choice for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it succeeds in

Highlights the successful achievement of a goal or objective.

it triumphs in

Focuses on achieving victory or success in a specific area.

it dominates in

Emphasizes a position of power or control in a particular domain.

it has an effect on

Indicates that something is causing a change or influence.

it exerts influence over

Stresses the power to affect or shape something.

it holds sway over

Implies a controlling or decisive influence.

it carries weight in

Indicates that something is important or influential.

it reigns supreme in

Suggests ultimate authority or dominance in a certain area.

it gains ground on

Highlights the progress or advancement made in a specific context.

it gains ascendancy over

Emphasizes rising to a position of dominance or power.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "it prevails on"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "it succeeds in", "it influences", or restructure the sentence to use "it is prevalent".

Is "it prevails on" grammatically correct?

While occasionally found in some contexts, "it prevails on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "it succeeds in" or other more standard phrasings.

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

Use "prevail" with prepositions like "in", "against", or "over", depending on the intended meaning. For example, "it prevailed in the competition", "it prevailed against the odds", or "it prevailed over its rivals".

What does it mean for something to "prevail"?

"Prevail" means to prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious or to be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; be current. The specific meaning changes based on how you use it in the sentence.