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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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prescribe about

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prescribe about" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in any context, as "prescribe" usually requires a direct object without the preposition "about." Example: "The doctor will prescribe medication for your condition."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Kaiser doctors prescribe about 2percentt of all prescription drugs in the United States; to stock its 300 pharmacies, the H.M.O.

News & Media

The New York Times

According to Berrington de González, doctors in the United Kingdom prescribe about 7 times fewer CT scans than those in the United States, French doctors prescribe 3 times fewer, and in Germany, half as many scans are given.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

These newer pills are prescribed about two million times a year.

News & Media

Independent

In the U.S., Foer reports, people are prescribed about three million pounds of antibiotics a year.

News & Media

The New Yorker

A new diabetes pill, Januvia, which is made by Merck and was approved after Exubera, is already prescribed about 40,000 times a week in the United States, 25 times as often as the Pfizer drug.

News & Media

The New York Times

Harm reduction advocates may criticize those advocating reduced opioid prescribing about unintended consequences for people who use drugs.

News & Media

Vice

Over the course of the next ten years I would be prescribed about a half dozen or so different types of medications.

News & Media

Vice

Consequently, in 2005 opioids were prescribed about 365 million times worldwide.

The unit prescribes about 2500 HIV tests per year to patients who come from all over the region.

Science

BMJ Open

Thyroid hormones were prescribed about four times more frequently to MG patients <50 years (2.4 5.5) and male MG patients (2.3 5.0).

Archives of drug prescriptions are collected by local health authorities and contain data about the patient, about the prescribing physician and about the drugs.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "prescribe about", use "prescribe" followed by the medication or treatment being ordered. For example, "The doctor will prescribe antibiotics".

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions like "about" after "prescribe". The correct usage is to directly specify what is being prescribed, such as "prescribe medication" or "prescribe a treatment plan".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prescribe about" is typically used as a verb phrase, but its usage is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the preposition "about" is unnecessary and should be omitted. The verb "prescribe" should be followed directly by the object (the medication or treatment).

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prescribe about" is grammatically incorrect and its usage is discouraged. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the verb "prescribe" should be followed directly by the object (the medication or treatment) without the unnecessary preposition "about". While the phrase may occasionally appear in informal contexts, it's essential to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "prescribe medication" or "prescribe for" in formal and professional settings. Remember to avoid the common error of adding unnecessary prepositions and strive for clear and precise communication when discussing medical prescriptions.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the word "prescribe" in a sentence?

Use "prescribe" followed directly by the medication or treatment. For instance, say "The doctor will "prescribe medication"", not "prescribe about medication".

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "prescribe about"?

Instead of "prescribe about", use phrases like "prescribe for" when indicating who the medication is intended for, or simply "prescribe medication".

Is it ever correct to use a preposition after "prescribe"?

While "prescribe about" is incorrect, you might use "prescribe for" to indicate the beneficiary of the prescription: "The doctor will prescribe medication for your condition." However, “The doctor will "prescribe medication"” is more concise.

What are common mistakes people make when using the word "prescribe"?

A frequent error is adding unnecessary prepositions like "about" or "on" after "prescribe". Always aim to use "prescribe" followed directly by the name of the medication or treatment. For example, the correct sentence would be: The doctor will "prescribe antibiotics".

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: