put by

USAGE SUMMARY

"put by" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to save or set aside something for later use. Example: I always make sure to put by a portion of my salary for savings.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

What I remember and put by.

The New Yorker

Unimprovably put by Wiggins.

The Guardian - Sport

From now on, I'm staying put by the phone.

The New York Times

It was put by the highway in 1986.

The New York Times

This is the allegedly extreme position put by Hacked Off.

The Guardian - Opinion

Once that's sorted, help your money stay put by learning to budget.

Independent

"My dreams of marrying someone I loved suddenly got put by the wayside.

Independent

The case put by prosecutors was riddled with holes and inconsistencies.

The Economist

THE pleasure of staying in a hotel was nicely put by Jan Morris, a travel writer.

The Economist

Di Girolamo's lawyers never responded to the allegations put by Blackburn.

The Guardian - Opinion

The main reason for not saving was not having enough money left to put by.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "put by" to mean saving money, clarify the purpose of the saving to provide context. For instance, "I put money by for emergencies" is clearer than just "I put money by."

Common error

Avoid using "put by" interchangeably with phrases like "put off" or "put down." "Put by" specifically means to save or set aside, while the others have different meanings related to postponement or criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "put by" functions primarily as a verb indicating the action of saving something for later use, whether it's money, food, or resources. As Ludwig AI states, it is a correct and usable phrase. This can be seen in examples such as saving money or preserving food.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "put by" is a versatile and frequently used expression primarily indicating the action of saving or setting something aside for future use. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. It commonly appears in neutral contexts, ranging from News & Media to Science. While highly similar to phrases like "set aside" and "save", it carries its unique nuance. When using "put by", ensure clarity by specifying the purpose of the saving. Avoid confusing it with other similar phrasal verbs like "put off" or "put down", which have distinct meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set aside

Emphasizes reserving something for a particular purpose or future time. It's highly similar, but "put by" carries a slightly more casual connotation.

save

Focuses specifically on accumulating something for future use, differing from "put by" which can also imply setting aside in a more general sense.

reserve

Highlights the act of keeping something available, contrasting with "put by" which might suggest storage or non-immediate access.

lay away

Implies reserving an item for purchase by making partial payments, a specific type of saving not always covered by "put by".

store

Emphasizes the act of placing something in a location for later retrieval, differing from "put by" in its focus on physical placement.

stash away

Suggests hiding something for safekeeping, adding a secrecy element not inherent in "put by".

bank

Specifically refers to depositing money into a financial institution, a narrower action than the broader "put by".

allocate

Suggests designating something for a specific use, which is a more active and directed action compared to the general "put by".

credit to

Attributes something to a source, differing from the saving or setting aside meanings of "put by".

ascribe to

Similar to "credit to", it emphasizes attributing something to a cause or origin, distinct from the saving connotations of "put by".

FAQs

How can I use "put by" in a sentence?

You can use "put by" to mean saving money, as in "I try to "put by" a little each month", or setting something aside, like "She "put by" the best piece of cake for him".

What can I say instead of "put by" when referring to saving money?

Alternatives for "put by" in the context of saving money include "save up", "set aside money", or "stash away".

Is it correct to say "putting by" or should I always use "put by"?

"Putting by" is the present participle form, used in continuous tenses (e.g., "I am putting by money for a vacation"). "Put by" is the base form and past participle (e.g., "I "put by" some money last week").

What's the difference between "set aside" and "put by"?

"Set aside" and "put by" are very similar. "Set aside" might imply a more formal or deliberate action, while "put by" can be more casual. For instance, you might "set aside" funds for a specific project, but "put by" leftovers in the fridge.