multiply by two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "multiply by two" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in mathematical contexts when instructing someone to increase a number by a factor of two. Example: "To find the total cost, you need to multiply by two the price of each item."

✓ Grammatically correct

Mathematics

Financial contexts

General instructions

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"Multiply by two and you get twenty-six" — but Eisenberg quickly gave in.

The New Yorker

"I'd say you have to multiply by two to get the real figure".

The New York Times

She said the quality is similar but the prices rise in the east — cross the bridge and multiply by two.

The Washington Post

To get the mother of these blouses, from Saint Laurent, with nicely done ruching, you add a zero and multiply by two.

The New York Times

Add one myth to the other, then go and try to live up to both of them; multiply by two if, like Ms. Breuklander, you really are both the mother and father in your home.

The New York Times

I mean, you might still have, you know, if you take, say, take his gradient field and scale it that in strange ways, you know, multiply by two in some places, by one in other places, by five and some other places, you will get something that won't be conservative anymore.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

(Remember: To convert seconds into BlackBerry time, multiply by seven).

The New York Times - Tech

Count the number of beats in 15 seconds, and multiply by four.

Harvard University

They're not going to multiply by five, but they will go up incrementally".

The Guardian

And if it were extended to age 35, the number would multiply by ten.

The Times

By the time it reaches Paris or London, its value may multiply by ten.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, ensure consistent terminology. If you introduce "multiply by two", stick with it unless a more concise term is appropriate in the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "multiply by two" when you actually mean "add two". Multiplication doubles the original value, whereas addition increases it by a fixed amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "multiply by two" functions as a mathematical instruction, directing the user to perform a specific arithmetic operation. Ludwig's examples show it's used in contexts requiring precise scaling or doubling of a quantity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

29%

News & Media

27%

Science

22%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "multiply by two" is a grammatically sound and commonly used instruction for doubling a numerical value. Ludwig highlights its applicability across various domains, including mathematics, financial calculations, and general how-to guides. While alternatives like "double" exist, "multiply by two" offers clarity and precision, especially in technical contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-accepted in written English and effective for conveying the intended mathematical operation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

double

Implies increasing something to twice its original size or amount; a more concise synonym.

increase twofold

Formal way of saying something will become twice as big, emphasizing the multiplicative increase.

multiply by a factor of two

More formal way of expressing the same operation, suitable for technical contexts.

scale by two

Common in mathematical and scientific contexts, implying a proportional increase.

duplicate

Focuses on creating an exact copy, resulting in two instances where there was one.

make twice as large

Emphasizes the resulting size after the multiplication, rather than the operation itself.

augment by 100 percent

Describes the increase as a percentage, highlighting the relative change.

raise to the power of 2

Mathematically related to squaring, but implies increasing by a factor related to the exponent 2.

square

While technically meaning 'raise to the power of 2', in some contexts it implies a doubling effect.

amplify by two

Suggests increasing the intensity or magnitude, often used in scientific or engineering fields.

FAQs

How do I use "multiply by two" in a sentence?

You can use "multiply by two" when you want to double a quantity, as in, "To calculate the total cost, "multiply by two" the unit price."

What is a simple way to say "multiply by two"?

A simpler way to say "multiply by two" is to use the word "double". For instance, you can say "Double the recipe ingredients" instead of "Multiply the recipe ingredients by two".

Is it correct to say "multiply it with two" instead of "multiply by two"?

While "multiply it with two" might be understood, the correct and more common phrasing is ""multiply by two"". The preposition "by" is standard in this mathematical context.

What's the difference between "multiply by two" and "add two"?

"Multiply by two" means you are doubling the original amount (x * 2), while "add two" means you are increasing the original amount by two (x + 2). These are different mathematical operations resulting in different values.