on an elective basis

USAGE SUMMARY

'on an elective basis' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that is optional rather than required. For example: "The course is offered on an elective basis, so students may opt to take it or not."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Rowghani says there's no "line in the sand," but that beyond "programmatically" investing its pro rata in all Y Combinator companies that raise money at up to a $300 million valuation, the firm will now "on an elective basis, write bigger checks to certain companies" that  have matured beyond their seed and Series A rounds.

TechCrunch

Less than two weeks after re-election, court transcripts also showed that DesJarlais' wife had two abortions -- one for medical reasons and another on an elective basis.

Huffington Post

The lesion can then be addressed on an elective basis in a well-prepared patient, using percutaneous or open surgical techniques to effect a durable long-term solution.

Seminars in Vascular Surgery

Performing the transplant on an elective basis should improve chances of success, Dr. Barker said, because the donor hand would be removed and grafted quickly, reducing the amount of time the tissue lacked oxygen.

The New York Times

At my center in California, which is for-profit and affiliated with UCSD for educational purposes only, we have 120 people, including a leadership team of 12 women and a faculty of physicians, oncologists, neurologists, and other specialists, as well as medical students and residents coming through on an elective basis.

Harvard Business Review

About 82% of all hospitalizations occurred on an elective basis.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

This is generally considered correct clinical management, since the rate of morbidity and mortality with aortic dissection is higher when surgery is performed on an emergent rather than an elective basis.

eLife

The child was referred on a purely elective basis.

European Journal of Pediatrics

These asplenic persons were assumed to have had a splenectomy on a non-elective basis.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The biggest decrease in the proportion of patients with AEs was observed for patients who were admitted on a non-elective basis (P = 0.006) (Table  4).

Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica

Existing evidence indicates better overall outcome when repair of AAA is performed on elective basis compared to the emergency repair [ 2– 4].

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on an elective basis" when you want to clearly communicate that something is optional and not mandatory. For example, in describing course selection or medical procedures.

Common error

Avoid using "on an elective basis" when you mean something happens frequently or routinely. "On a regular basis" describes frequency, while "on an elective basis" describes choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on an elective basis" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the manner in which an action is performed or a decision is made. It indicates that something is done by choice or option, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on an elective basis" is a common phrase used to describe something that is optional or performed by choice. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, including science, news, and academia. When writing, it's important to differentiate its meaning from phrases describing frequency, such as "on a regular basis". The phrase's neutral to formal register makes it suitable for diverse professional settings, indicating that participation or selection is a matter of personal choice rather than a strict requirement. To improve clarity in communication, use "on an elective basis" when highlighting the voluntary nature of an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a voluntary basis

Direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of compulsion.

on a non-mandatory basis

Formal way of saying that something is not required.

optionally

Highlights that something is not required but available if desired.

voluntarily

Focuses on the action being done willingly, not necessarily as part of a structured choice.

by choice

Emphasizes the decision-making aspect of the action.

without obligation

Emphasizes the lack of any requirement or duty.

at one's discretion

Indicates that the decision is left to the individual's judgment.

as a matter of preference

Highlights the subjective nature of the decision.

by personal selection

Highlights that choice depends on one's personal view.

subject to election

Highlights that the choice requires a formal selection process.

FAQs

How can I use "on an elective basis" in a sentence?

You can use "on an elective basis" to indicate that something is optional or chosen. For example, "The course is offered "on an elective basis", allowing students to choose whether to take it".

What phrases are similar to "on an elective basis"?

Similar phrases include "on a voluntary basis", "optionally", or "by choice", all indicating that something is not mandatory.

Is it correct to say 'on an elective base' instead of "on an elective basis"?

No, the correct phrase is "on an elective basis". "Base" refers to a foundation or starting point, while "basis" refers to a manner or way of doing something. Therefore, "on an elective basis" is the appropriate choice.

What is the difference between "on an elective basis" and "on a mandatory basis"?

"On an elective basis" means something is optional and chosen, whereas "on a mandatory basis" means something is required and not optional.