pertains

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "pertains" is an acceptable and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that relates to or is relevant to a particular subject. For example, "The evidence pertains to the crime that occurred last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The Farc have expressed concerns about their legal status as pertains to the United States," according to a source close to the peace process.

The Guardian

"A vast proportion of indigenous territories and protected areas are increasingly at risk, with potentially disastrous consequences, including 40% of the indigenous territories, 30% of the protected areas and 24% of the area that pertains to both," said Beto Ricardo of the Instituto Socioambiental of Brazil.

The Guardian

The image of a strutting, aloof, barrel-chested Cantona, upturned collar and all, that pertains from his remarkable time at United, represents only one side of this strange and mysterious man.

The Guardian - Sport

A Nash equilibrium, however, is rarely the best possible outcome; it is merely the one that pertains if the players are unable or unwilling to co-operate.That insight has found wide application in both the social and the biological sciences.

The Economist

After a previous horrific child killing that of Victoria Climbié in 2000, also in Haringey social work as it pertains to children was brought under the ambit of "children's services", which also encompass education and big chunks of policing and health care.

The Economist

America has much more extractable gas in shale than previously thought, and the same geology pertains around the world.

The Economist

Education and research Alan Story, a specialist in IPR at the University of Kent, in Britain, reckons that copyright, particularly as it pertains to education and research, will be the next big battleground.

The Economist

Theoretically, then, an OTEC plant can be built anywhere that the ocean has a surface temperature above 25°C and is more than 1km deep.Fortunately for the technology's supporters, that state of affairs pertains in several places of interest to America's Defence Department.

The Economist

The trend is particularly acute in the plains states, but also pertains in much of the Midwest and the South.

The Economist

"To allege" means " to assert to be true", and so pertains either to the assertion of a suspect's guilt ("The police allege that Smith committed the robbery"), or to the existence of the crime itself, when this is not yet shown: an alleged conspiracy, say, or an alleged fraud.

The Economist

If the Republicans retake the Senate next year and have the opportunity to pass major legislation, I think it very likely they'll get rid of the filibuster, or pare it back in some complicated way that pertains to the issues they consider important.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pertains" when you want to indicate a clear and direct relationship between a subject and a specific context, especially in formal writing. For example, "This regulation pertains specifically to environmental safety standards."

Common error

Avoid using "pertains" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "relates to" or "concerns" to maintain a natural tone. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The word "pertains" primarily functions as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. It indicates that something is related or connected to a particular subject or context. Ludwig AI highlights numerous examples where "pertains" serves to establish relevance or association.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "pertains" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to establish a direct connection or relevance between subjects, especially in formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across news, science, and business domains. While it's an effective way to denote a relationship, it's advisable to consider the audience and context, opting for less formal synonyms like "relates to" or "concerns" in more casual settings to avoid sounding overly formal. When precision and formality are key, "pertains" is an appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relates to

Focuses on the direct connection or association between subjects, offering a more straightforward alternative.

is pertinent to

Similar to "pertains" but often used to emphasize the direct and crucial relevance of something.

applies to

Emphasizes the applicability or relevance of a rule, law, or principle to a specific case or situation.

concerns

Highlights the subject matter that is being discussed or is of interest, often used to introduce a topic.

is relevant to

Stresses the importance or significance of something in relation to a particular matter.

refers to

Indicates a direct reference or allusion to something else, often used in academic or technical writing.

is connected to

Points out a link or association, which can be less direct than "pertains" but still indicates a relationship.

bears on

Suggests an influence or impact on a particular situation or decision, implying a consequential relationship.

is associated with

Highlights a connection or link between two or more things, often suggesting a correlation rather than a direct relationship.

has to do with

A more informal way of expressing a connection or relationship, suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

What does "pertains" mean?

The word "pertains" means to relate to something; to have a connection with a specific subject, event, or context.

How can I use "pertains" in a sentence?

You can use "pertains" to show that something relates directly to a specific topic. For example, "The evidence /s/relates+to the case".

What are some alternatives to using "pertains"?

Alternatives to "pertains" include "relates to", "applies to", or "concerns" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "pertains to" or "relates to"?

"Pertains to" is more formal than "relates to". Use "pertains to" in professional or academic contexts and "relates to" in more casual settings.