qualify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "qualify" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is meeting certain criteria or standards, or when someone is making a statement more specific or limited. Example: "To qualify for the scholarship, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Money

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Derided as a buffoonish figure of fun for attempting to keep dry while his England team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, McClaren is currently attracting far less media attention for steering Derby County to fourth from 14th in the Championship after a run of just two defeats in 15 matches since he replaced Nigel Clough in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Russia had exited Euro 2012 at the group stage, failed to qualify for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and would have hosted the event in 2018 without experience at that level for 16 years had they not made it to Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

"Last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we failed to qualify for the Champions League the following season I'd be allowed to go," he revealed.

The Guardian - Sport

The intriguing subplot is that West Ham and Everton are locked in a race to qualify for Europe via the Fair Play League.

The Guardian - Sport

Afterwards Espírito Santo said: "We have to win a lot of points to qualify for the Champions League.

The Guardian - Sport

Blair, before I arrived, had been briefed about what individual members of the family had said to me and now how they might like to qualify their views and statements.

The Guardian - Opinion

Iceland head to Croatia for the second leg of their World Cup play-off as they look to make history and qualify for their first major tournament.

The Guardian - Sport

She added that many transgender people do not have GRCs, either because, like Lynn, they don't yet qualify for them, object to them on principle, or do not want to go through the hassle and expense of applying.

The Guardian

Arsenal have been handed a daunting task to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase after the draw placed them in Group F with last season's runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, Rafael Benítez's Napoli and Marseille.

The Guardian - Sport

It will also be an Olympic year, after 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and Oman hopes its crews will qualify for the dinghy and wind-surfing events, a stepping stone on the way to its first medals in 2024.

The Guardian - Sport

By no stretch of the imagination does this qualify as "news".

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "qualify", ensure you clearly state the specific criteria or standards that need to be met. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "qualify" without specifying the conditions. For example, instead of saying "He qualifies", specify "He qualifies for the scholarship because he meets the GPA requirement".

Linguistic Context

The word "qualify" primarily functions as a verb. It signifies the act of meeting specific requirements or standards to become eligible for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and usable in written English. Examples show its diverse applications across contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Sport

25%

Money

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Opinion

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "qualify" is a versatile verb used to indicate meeting specific criteria or making a statement more specific. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and commonly used across various contexts. It's frequently used in news, sports and finance, and in other professional settings. When using "qualify", it is crucial to clearly specify the conditions or criteria being referred to, to avoid any ambiguity. Alternatives such as "be eligible" or "meet the criteria" can be used depending on the context. Understanding its various applications ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet the criteria

Focuses on fulfilling specific requirements or standards.

be eligible

Emphasizes meeting the necessary conditions to be considered suitable.

fulfill the requirements

Highlights meeting all necessary conditions.

be entitled

Highlights having a right or justification to something.

be suitable

Stresses appropriateness for a specific purpose or role.

have the credentials

Emphasizes possessing the necessary qualifications or experience.

measure up

Indicates meeting expectations or standards.

pass the test

Focuses on successfully completing an evaluation or assessment.

be up to par

Indicates meeting a required level of quality or performance.

gain acceptance

Suggests being approved or recognized as meeting requirements.

FAQs

How to use "qualify" in a sentence?

"Qualify" can be used to describe meeting certain criteria, such as "To qualify for the loan, you must have a good credit score" or limiting a statement, like "I would qualify my previous statement by adding that...". Alternatives include "be eligible" or "meet the criteria".

What can I say instead of "qualify"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "be eligible", "meet the criteria", "be entitled", or "be suitable".

Which is correct, "qualify for" or "qualify to"?

Both "qualify for" and "qualify to" can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Qualify for" is used to indicate meeting the requirements for something, like "qualify for a loan". "Qualify to" is used to indicate being competent or certified to do something, such as "qualify to teach".

What's the difference between "qualify" and "disqualify"?

"Qualify" means to meet the necessary conditions or requirements, while "disqualify" means to be ineligible or prevented from meeting those conditions. For example, "He qualified for the team" vs. "He was disqualified due to a rule violation".