order by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "order by" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used in conjunction with a database query, and can be used to order the results of a query in a particular way. For example, one might issue the query "SELECT * FROM customers ORDER BY country ASC" to list all customers in alphabetical order by their country.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Travel

Technology

Food

Sport

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Order by Nov. 19.

The New York Times - Food

For Christmas, order by Dec. 15.

The New York Times

Order by 10 a.m.

The New York Times - Tech

The books are discussed in alphabetical order, by author.

The New York Times

It superseded a 1978 Executive Order by President Carter.

The New Yorker

Order by mail at [phone] or www.zingermans.com.

The New York Times - Travel

in the New World Order By Robert Kagan 103 pages.

The New York Times - Books

The Defense Department officials said the order, by Maj.

The New York Times

"It's very important to order by color," he said.

The New York Times - Food

But individuals can order by phone, or have him search.

The New York Times

The judges are listed in alphabetical order by category.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "order by" in database queries or code, ensure that the data type of the column you're ordering by is appropriate for the intended sorting (e.g., numeric for numerical order, lexicographical for alphabetical order).

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly specifying the sorting direction (ascending or descending) when using "order by". Omitting this can lead to unexpected results, especially if the default sorting behavior is not what you intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "order by" functions primarily as a directive in database queries, specifying the criteria for sorting results. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

23%

News & Media

45%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Huffington Post

6%

Forbes

1%

The Guardian

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "order by" is a versatile and frequently used prepositional phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. Primarily used in technical and professional contexts like database management and programming, it directs the arrangement of data according to specified criteria. Its grammatical correctness, high source quality, and consistent usage patterns make it a reliable and effective choice for technical communication. Remember to specify sorting direction and data types to prevent ambiguity and ensure the intended outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrange according to

This alternative focuses on the act of arranging items based on a specific criterion, which is a more descriptive way of expressing the action of ordering.

sort based on

This alternative is focused on sorting to be ordered by a certain criteria.

classify by

This is focused on the act of organizing or grouping entities based on shared attributes or characteristics.

categorize according to

This option underscores the organization of items into distinct groups, emphasizing the process of categorization.

group by

This is focused on the aggregation or clustering of items sharing specific properties or attributes.

list in accordance with

This phrase underscores the presentation of items following a set of guidelines or criteria.

rank following

This focuses on the establishment of a hierarchy among items based on particular standards or measures.

sequence as per

This focuses on a particular order based on a standard or guideline, with a higher emphasis on the process of arranging elements.

structure based on

This is about the underlying framework or arrangement of elements guided by certain principles or requirements.

systematize following

It is used to organize following a deliberate and methodological plan, typically to bring about efficiency or clarity.

FAQs

How is "order by" used in SQL queries?

In SQL, "order by" is used to sort the result-set of a query in ascending or descending order. For example, SELECT * FROM Employees ORDER BY LastName /s/asc, FirstName /s/desc sorts employees by last name in ascending order and then by first name in descending order.

What is the difference between "order by" and "group by" in SQL?

"Order by" sorts the rows in the result-set, while "group by" groups rows that have the same values into summary rows, like finding the number of customers in each country. You can use both clauses in a single query, but "group by" typically comes before "order by".

Can I "order by" multiple columns in SQL?

Yes, you can "order by" multiple columns. The sorting is performed based on the first column specified, and then within each group of identical values in the first column, the rows are sorted by the second column, and so on.

What are some alternatives to using "order by" in database queries?

While "order by" is the standard way to sort results in SQL, you might consider using client-side sorting in your application code if the dataset is small or if you need custom sorting logic that's difficult to express in SQL. However, for large datasets, database-side sorting with "order by" is generally more efficient.