separated it by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "separated it by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the action of dividing or distinguishing something using a specific method or criteria. Example: "To clarify the data, I separated it by categories to make the analysis easier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They separated it by color: brown, which is the most common cashmere in Mongolia; red, which is rarer; light gray; and white, which is the most highly prized, because it can be dyed in the widest variety of colors.

The New Yorker

The Huffington Post collected the data and separated it by whether the tweet came from Trump's Android or an iPhone.

Huffington Post

We pooled 20 μg of total lung protein from each of the eight experimental groups (six CDNP types and two controls) and separated it by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis using the XCell II Blot Module and NuPage Novex Bis-Tris Gels and blotted to polyvinyl difluoride membranes (Invitrogen).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"You learn to separate it by living the life of a pitcher for a day, just mentally," Ventura said.

The New York Times - Sports

We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down in posterity representing liberty.

Huffington Post

We then compared the peak intensities of the oligomers in the same spectrum using Hsp70 expressed in E. coli (Hsp70 E. coli ) labeled with heavy isotopes (C), separating it by mass from Hsp70 expressed in Sf9 cells (Hsp70Sf9).

Cell Reports

Then, he/she separates it by family/recipient and freezes the portions individually.

WikiHow

The two were separated, it would seem, by a few thousand votes.

The New York Times

The tumor was successfully removed by separating it from the nerve fascicles to negative margins.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

We investigated the inner structure of the micro-dome by separating it from the substrate.

Electrochimica Acta

A similar beam without fibers fails suddenly at a small deflection by separating it into two pieces.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "separated it by", ensure the criteria for separation is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of "separated it by size", specify "separated it by size, using a small, medium, and large classification".

Common error

Avoid using "separated it by" without specifying the basis of separation. Saying "They separated it" lacks clarity; instead, specify "They separated it by color" or "They separated it by function".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "separated it by" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of dividing something (represented by "it") based on a specific criterion or attribute. This highlights a process of categorization or differentiation, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33.33%

Science

33.33%

Wiki

33.33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "separated it by" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It indicates the action of dividing or distinguishing something based on a specific method or criteria. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. The phrase is generally neutral in tone and requires clear specification of the separation criteria. Related phrases like "divided it by" or "categorized it by" can be used as alternatives. The key is to avoid vagueness and clearly define the basis for separation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divided it by

Focuses on the act of dividing something into parts based on a specific criterion.

categorized it by

Emphasizes placing something into categories according to shared characteristics.

classified it by

Highlights a systematic arrangement into groups or classes.

sorted it by

Suggests arranging items in a specific order based on a defined parameter.

grouped it by

Implies forming groups based on similarities or shared attributes.

distinguished it by

Focuses on identifying differences based on particular features.

differentiated it by

Similar to 'distinguished it by' but emphasizes clearer, more defined differences.

sectioned it by

Highlights the division into distinct sections or segments.

segmented it by

Similar to 'sectioned it by' but suggests a more precise or technical division.

partitioned it by

Indicates dividing something into separate and distinct parts, often with a barrier.

FAQs

How can I use "separated it by" in a sentence?

Use "separated it by" when you want to express that something was divided or distinguished based on a specific characteristic. For example, "The data was "separated it by" age group".

What are some alternatives to "separated it by"?

Alternatives include "divided it by", "categorized it by", or "classified it by" depending on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "separated by" without the "it"?

Yes, "separated by" is correct when the object being separated is clear from the context. For example, "The houses were "separated by" a fence".

What's the difference between "separated it by" and "separated it into"?

"Separated it by" implies a criterion for division, while "separated it into" indicates the resulting groups. For example, "separated it by color" focuses on the color, while "separated it into three groups" focuses on the number of groups.