judge by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "judge by" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to make a decision or form an opinion based on evidence, characteristics, or standards. Example: "You can't judge a book by its cover" means that you should not form an opinion about something or someone based solely on their appearance. Another example: "The quality of a restaurant should not be judged by its prices, but by the taste and presentation of the food."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not to judge by its recent cinema.

Independent

To judge by the crowds, nobody minds.

The Economist

Judge by my action.

The New Yorker

Appointed Judge by Governor Hill.

The New York Times

Nobody should judge by appearances.

The Guardian - Books

Don't judge by reputation or appearances.

The Guardian - Books

I judge by deeds not words.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But people judge by the battery".

The New York Times - Tech

No one indicated they would judge by body language alone.

Princeton University

Rarely at the pizza oven, to judge by recent visits.

The New York Times - Food

If you judge by reputations, then everything is in Paris.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "judge by", ensure the criteria you are using for judgment are clearly stated to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Judge the success of the project by its impact on revenue, not just its completion date."

Common error

Avoid using "judge by" without specifying what you are judging by. Saying "Don't judge" is incomplete; clarify with "Don't "judge by" appearances alone".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "judge by" functions as a verb phrase that specifies the criterion or standard used to form an opinion or make an assessment. Examples in Ludwig highlight its role in setting evaluation parameters, as seen in 'Don't "judge by" size: some of the best are modest'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "judge by" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate the criteria for making an evaluation or forming an opinion. As Ludwig AI indicates, its frequent usage across diverse sources, including news, academia, and formal business, confirms its widespread applicability. To use the phrase effectively, remember to clearly specify the evaluation criteria, avoiding vague statements. Related alternatives include "assess based on" and "evaluate according to", offering nuanced ways to express similar concepts. By following these guidelines, you can confidently incorporate "judge by" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Assess based on

Emphasizes the act of evaluating something using specific criteria as a foundation for judgment.

Evaluate according to

Highlights the process of measuring or determining the significance or worth of something based on established standards.

Determine from

Focuses on arriving at a conclusion or decision as a result of examining particular information.

Decide on the basis of

Stresses that the decision is made directly and logically as a consequence of specific factors.

Form an opinion based on

Implies a more personal or subjective assessment influenced by individual perspectives.

Gauge by

Suggests measuring or estimating something, often using a particular indicator.

Measure against

Implies a comparative evaluation, where something is assessed in relation to a specific standard or benchmark.

Infer from

Highlights the process of deducing information or forming a conclusion based on indirect evidence or reasoning.

Conclude from

Focuses on reaching a final judgment or understanding as a result of considering certain facts or observations.

Ascertain through

Indicates discovering something definitively by investigation or examination.

FAQs

How to use "judge by" in a sentence?

Use "judge by" to indicate the criteria on which an evaluation or decision is based. For example, "You can "judge by" the quality of the ingredients used."

What can I say instead of "judge by"?

You can use alternatives like "assess based on", "evaluate according to", or "determine from" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "judge by" or "judged by"?

"Judge by" is used in imperative or conditional statements, while "judged by" is used in passive constructions. For example, "Judge by my actions, not my words" vs. "I want to be judged by my actions".

What's the difference between "judge by" and "based on"?

"Judge by" implies an active evaluation process using specific criteria, while "based on" simply indicates a foundation or source of information. For example, "We will "judge by" these factors" versus "This decision is based on thorough research".