operating on them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "operating on them" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is performing actions or processes on a subject, often in technical or medical discussions. Example: "The engineers are operating on them to improve the system's efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

While I have focused here on just a few examples in food, laundry and transportation, the innovators are hard at work rethinking all kinds of work that can be done by these futuristic full-stack app "systems," from mowing our lawns to diagnosing our diseases — and even operating on them one day.

TechCrunch

Sufferers from duodenal ulcers would find Him operating on them, materialising the instruments from thin air.

The Economist

Todes writes that in early experiments Pavlov was constantly stymied by the difficulty of keeping his subjects alive after operating on them.

The New Yorker

The US has 288,800 infected devices, while the UK and Australia both have around 100,000 devices with HummingBad operating on them.

The Guardian - Tech

The extraordinary operation, described in an article on Dec. 15 in Science Times, was performed by Dr. Tomoaki Kato, an expert in ex vivo resection — taking out organs and operating on them outside the body to cut out tumors that cannot be removed in any other way, then sewing the organs back in.

The New York Times - Science

Just one surgeon in Britain, Dr Kamal Iskander, based at Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex, is known to perform the occasional clitoroplasty on a patient but, he explains, only if he's already operating on them for more extensive post-FGM problems, such as chronic pain or infibulation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

(Junior nurse, Centre A) "We have so many ankle fractures sitting around on the ward for a week before the operation… if you operated on them straightaway … they would be done and out the next day".

BMJ Open

They are taken to hospitals, often in poor condition, making it harder to operate on them.

The New York Times

Main memories take longer to access data than CPUs take to operate on them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We've anesthetized them, we take away their ability to think, to breathe, and we cut them open and operate on them.

The New York Times

But he also acknowledged that many patients hesitate to ask for fear of offending the doctor who may operate on them.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing medical procedures, use specific terms like "performing surgery on them" or "administering treatment to them" for clarity. "Operating on them" is correct, but lacks the informative precision in professional context.

Common error

Avoid using "operating on them" when a more precise term is available. For example, in a tech context, say "debugging the system" instead of vaguely stating "operating on it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "operating on them" functions as a verb phrase combined with a prepositional phrase, indicating an action being performed on a specific group. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "operating on them" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a procedure being performed on a group. While versatile, it can benefit from more precise language depending on the context, as Ludwig AI points out. As observed by Ludwig's analysis of various sources, this expression sees frequent use in "News & Media" and "Science". For more formal or technical writing, consider using alternatives such as "performing surgery on them" or "conducting a procedure on them". Be mindful of the potential for overgeneralization and seek specificity when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

performing surgery on them

Replaces "operating" with a more specific term, "surgery", adding clarity.

treating them surgically

Rephrases to emphasize the method of treatment as surgical.

conducting a procedure on them

Substitutes "operating" with "conducting a procedure", broadening the context beyond just surgery.

giving them surgical treatment

Focuses on providing surgical treatment, changing the sentence structure.

performing an intervention on them

Uses "intervention" instead of "operating", suggesting a broader range of actions taken to affect them.

taking action on them

Replaces "operating" with the more general "taking action", which is less specific but applicable in many situations.

administering care to them

Focuses on the care aspect of the action, softening the technical tone.

working on them

A more general phrase that replaces "operating" with "working", suitable for contexts beyond medical procedures.

applying a process to them

Uses "applying a process" as a more abstract alternative, suitable for non-medical contexts.

manipulating them

Implies a more direct and hands-on approach, which may have different connotations.

FAQs

How can I use "operating on them" in a sentence?

You can use "operating on them" in sentences like, "The doctor is skilled at "operating on them" efficiently" or "The new software allows engineers to "operating on them" remotely".

What are some alternatives to "operating on them"?

Alternatives include "performing surgery on them", "conducting a procedure on them", or "working on them" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "operating on them" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "operating on them" might be too general for formal contexts. Consider more specific phrasing like "conducting a procedure on them" or "performing an intervention on them" for increased clarity.

What's the difference between "operating on them" and "working on them"?

"Operating on them" usually implies a more technical or invasive action, often medical. "Working on them" is more general and can apply to various tasks or projects, not necessarily involving physical intervention. You can use "working on them" to describe improving code, for example.