provide assistance to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provide assistance to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when one person or entity is offering help to another. For example, "The government is providing assistance to those affected by the natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The job is to provide assistance to the courts.

The New York Times

They also pledged to provide assistance to their beleaguered Iraqi colleagues in restoring damaged antiquities.

The New York Times

If approved, the request could provide assistance to individuals and business owners.

The New York Times

I will provide assistance to you if you cannot identify candidates on your own".

The New York Times - Sports

Care.com, a new Web site, hopes to provide assistance to travelers in the United States.

The New York Times - Travel

These provide assistance to those who lack sufficient money to feed themselves and their families.

The Guardian - Opinion

The bill would provide assistance to elderly residents facing eviction or foreclosure.

The New York Times

Both proposals would expand Medicare to provide assistance to the elderly in buying prescription drugs.

The New York Times

All this ought to be reason enough for the US to provide assistance to Haitian refugees.

The Guardian - Opinion

Inside Syria, the US and its allies should actively provide assistance to Syrian opposition groups.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nonprofit groups that are often financed by the drug industry provide assistance to those patients instead.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "provide assistance to", ensure the type of assistance is clear to the reader. Specificity enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "provide assistance to" without specifying what kind of assistance is being offered. Vague descriptions can leave the reader confused and diminish the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provide assistance to" functions as a verb phrase that expresses the action of offering help or support. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it's often used to describe actions taken by organizations or individuals to aid others in need.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "provide assistance to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for offering help or support. According to Ludwig, it appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, indicating a relatively formal register. Related phrases include "offer support to" and "lend a hand to", with subtle differences in formality and emphasis. While "provide assistance to" is generally correct, clarity is improved by specifying the type of assistance being offered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer support to

Replaces "assistance" with "support", emphasizing the act of giving help.

give aid to

Uses "aid" instead of "assistance", implying a more formal or significant form of help.

lend a hand to

An idiomatic alternative that suggests offering help in a practical way.

supply help to

Emphasizes the act of supplying or providing help.

deliver support to

Highlights the delivery of assistance or support.

help out

A more casual and general way of saying "provide assistance".

furnish aid to

A formal alternative to "give aid to", implying a more substantial provision of help.

extend a service to

Focuses on offering a particular service or benefit.

be of service to

A more formal way of offering help or assistance.

aid and abet

Uses a more direct and sometimes legalistic connotation to indicate help.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "provide assistance to"?

You can use alternatives like "offer support to", "lend a hand to", or "give aid to" depending on the context.

How can I make my use of "provide assistance to" more specific?

Instead of simply stating that you'll "provide assistance to" someone, specify the type of help you'll offer. For example, "provide financial assistance to", or "provide technical assistance to".

Is "provide assistance to" formal or informal?

"Provide assistance to" is relatively neutral but leans towards formal. For a more informal option, consider using phrases like "help out".

What's the difference between "provide assistance to" and "provide aid to"?

While similar, "provide aid to" often implies a more significant or formal level of help than "provide assistance to". Aid can refer to providing resources, while assistance can refer to providing services or help.