solves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solves" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of finding a solution to a problem or challenge. Example: "The new software solves many of the issues we faced in the previous version."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If you see this in person, it's, like, 'How the fuck do you do that?'" The World Cube Association, the governing body of speedsolving, speedcubing or cubing, as it is variously known, requires competitors to attempt five solves, the best and worst of which are eliminated, and the other three times are averaged to make sure that nothing is decided by chance.

The Guardian - Tech

Purity solves everything: remember, Santorum's millionaire supporter Foster Friess recommended women use aspirin to keep from getting pregnant: "The gals put it between their knees".

The Guardian - Opinion

None of this solves the problem of fire.

The Guardian - Tech

It's also saving a few new series like comic book-inspired Lucifer which is actually about the devil, The Frankenstein Code which is actually about a guy brought back to life like Frankenstein except he has super power and solves crimes unlike Frankenstein.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Delivering a lecture in central London entitled 'Britain's International Obligations – Fetters or Keys?', Grieve warned departing from the EU would cause more problems than it solves.

The Guardian

That idea is attractive to theoretical economists who believe that competition solves all problems.

The Guardian - Opinion

Two solves down, three to go.

The Guardian - Tech

For instance, when IBM last year bought Tivoli, Austin's most promising software firm, the purchase price of $743m reflected both the money and the time that IBM would have had to spend on doing Tivoli's R&D itself.From the small company's point of view, selling out solves the problem of distribution.

The Economist

The miner that solves the equation first further processes the block and broadcasts this "proof-of-work" to the bitcoin network.5) The other miners check the proof-of-work and the validity of the transactions.

The Economist

Any option that solves the problem by buying bad assets will either fail (if those assets are bought at face value recall, the banks are insolvent) or will succeed by buying those assets at well more than they're worth.

The Economist

Others think cyber-police should secure the pipes like those who already keep roads, skies and borders safe.Yet making targets more resilient only partly solves the problem.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "solves" when you want to indicate that a problem or issue is successfully resolved or addressed. It implies a positive outcome or a way forward.

Common error

Avoid using "solves" as a universal solution for every problem. Sometimes, 'mitigates', 'addresses', or 'handles' might be more appropriate to reflect the actual impact.

Linguistic Context

The word "solves" functions primarily as a verb in the third-person singular present tense. Ludwig AI shows it's used to indicate that a subject is finding a solution to a problem. It follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "solves" is a versatile verb used to indicate the successful resolution of a problem or issue. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various domains, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While it's generally neutral in tone, overuse should be avoided by considering alternatives like "resolves", "addresses", or "handles" to maintain precision and avoid monotony. Its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian underscores its reliability and relevance in contemporary writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resolves

Direct synonym, implying a conclusive solution to a problem or situation.

addresses

Indicates dealing with or focusing on a problem, though not necessarily finding a complete solution.

handles

Suggests managing or dealing with a situation effectively.

fixes

Implies repairing or correcting something that is broken or not working properly.

answers

Provides a solution or response to a question or problem.

rectifies

Formal term for correcting something that is wrong.

counteracts

Works against or neutralizes a negative effect or problem.

mitigates

Reduces the severity or impact of a problem.

cures

Eliminates a disease or ailment, often used metaphorically for other problems.

untangles

Suggests resolving a complex or confusing situation.

FAQs

How do I use "solves" in a sentence?

You can use "solves" to indicate that something provides a solution to a problem. For example, "This new technology "solves" a critical issue."

What's the difference between "solves" and "resolves"?

"Solves" generally implies finding an answer or solution to a problem, while "resolves" suggests a more formal or decisive settlement of a dispute or issue.

What can I say instead of "solves"?

You can use alternatives like "addresses", "handles", or "fixes" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "solves" in formal writing?

The word "solves" is appropriate in formal writing when you want to clearly state that a specific problem has been successfully addressed or a solution has been found. It is less formal than phrases like "obviates" or "rectifies".