judging by

USAGE SUMMARY

"judging by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when you are making an inference based on available evidence. For example: "Judging by the look on his face, he did not like the answer I gave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Certainly not smiles, judging by the eyes.

The New York Times

Possibly, judging by the scandal-prone crowd.

The New York Times

Actually, judging by Monday's broadcast, you can't.

The New York Times - Arts

Not judging by this week's top 40.

The Guardian - Music

Judging by the nonplused looks, probably not.

The New York Times - Style

Well, judging by honeymooning Alpa's experience, yes.

The Guardian - Travel

It certainly did, judging by bdpbbear's comments.

The Guardian

It's working mightily, judging by Tuesday's results.

The New York Times

Judging by the photos, mullets abound.

The New York Times

Judging by your note, he is not.

The New York Times - Magazine

Judging by the first episode, that's true.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "judging by" to introduce an inference or conclusion drawn from specific observations or evidence. It's best suited when you want to show the reasoning behind your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "judging by" when the evidence is flimsy or anecdotal. Ensure the basis for your judgment is reasonably solid, to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "judging by" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a statement of inference or deduction. It essentially sets the stage for a conclusion based on observed evidence, similar to phrases like "based on" or "<a href="/s/according to". Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "judging by" is a versatile phrase used to introduce deductions based on evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in written English. While it functions primarily in neutral to slightly informal contexts, the evidence from Ludwig shows that more formal options like "based on" might be preferred in academic or scientific writing. When employing "judging by", ensure the evidence supporting your deduction is reasonably substantial for a more credible statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

based on

This alternative directly indicates a foundation or reason for a conclusion.

according to

This suggests information comes from a specific source or authority.

from what I see

This emphasizes a personal observation as the basis for a judgment.

as far as I can tell

This indicates a conclusion based on the available evidence to the speaker.

if I had to guess

This suggests a speculative conclusion in the absence of definitive proof.

to all appearances

This alternative suggests that things seem a certain way.

on the evidence of

This phrase explicitly refers to the evidence used to reach a conclusion.

in light of

This suggests considering all the circumstances or information.

by all indications

This implies that multiple signs point toward the same conclusion.

it would seem that

This phrase is a more formal and tentative way of making an inference.

FAQs

How can I use "judging by" in a sentence?

"Judging by" is used to introduce a statement that is based on available evidence. For example, "Judging by the heavy clouds, it's going to rain".

What are some alternatives to "judging by"?

Alternatives include "based on", "according to", or "from what I see", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "judging by" or "based on"?

"Based on" is generally considered more formal than "judging by". The latter has a slightly more casual tone, implying a more personal or immediate assessment.

Can "judging by" be used in scientific writing?

While "judging by" can be used, it's often preferable to use more formal alternatives like "based on" or "<a href="/s/according to" in scientific writing to maintain objectivity and precision.