source out

USAGE SUMMARY

"source out" is not correct or usable in written English.
To use it colloquially, you could say "source something out" or "source it out," meaning to find a source of something. For example, "We need to source out a better supplier for this product."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

As Alastair Campbell put it in his diary: "The biggest thing needed was the source out", in order to "fuck Gilligan".

The Guardian

"There is no prohibition on them taking people out - all we said is 'perhaps you ought to take a source out and get some stories instead'".

The Guardian

Neither Mr. Siegel nor Ms. Totenberg, nor Ms. Montagne nor Mr. Kernis, said they would miss those times when Washington sources might not have heard of an NPR reporter — or the reporter might not have the money to take a source out to lunch.

The New York Times - Arts

"Do they seek a source out, or do they sidestep it?" says Bharat.

Forbes

The Parrs and Lucius team up to fight the robot, until Bob uses Syndrome's remote control and one of the Omnidroid's detached pincers to make it tear its power source out, destroying it.

Wikipedia

The situation in his father's campaign at the time warranted hearing the source out, he said, noting his "sirens" didn't even go off because Russia, at the time, "wasn't this big news story".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The literature indicates that some of the factors that impact health facility efficiency include, for example, catchment population, distance, location (urban/rural), ownership (profit/not-for-profit), teaching status, payment source (out-of-pocket/health insurance), occupancy rate, average length of stay, outpatient visits as a proportion of inpatient days, and quality [25, 38, 39].

Health Economics Review

From her sources out in the street, she said, she was told that gangs like the Crips and Bloods were trying to make inroads in Stamford.

The New York Times

For those who dream of a post-Snowden utopia where no government and corporate secrets are protected, @YourAnonNews is one of the only trustworthy news sources out there.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is something that other companies could do when it comes to sourcing out tasks to its users.

TechCrunch

There are multiple sources out there and they will tell the benefits and drawbacks of all of them.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, it's often better to use "source something out" or "source it out" to indicate finding a source. For example, "We need to source a better supplier for this product".

Common error

Avoid using "source out" as a standalone phrase without a direct object. Instead, clarify by specifying what is being sourced. For example, instead of "We need to source out", say "We need to source a new vendor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "source out" functions primarily as a phrasal verb in search for or to identify something. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase needs an object to be grammatically correct. Examples show its use in various contexts, but often in ways that are not standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "source out" is often used colloquially to mean finding or identifying a source. However, as Ludwig AI notes, it is not always grammatically correct without specifying what is being sourced. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media and science contexts. For clarity and correctness, it is advisable to use a direct object or consider alternative phrases like "find the source" or "identify the origin". While "source out" is common, ensure it's used in a way that clearly conveys the intended meaning to avoid grammatical ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extract the source

Highlights the removal or derivation of something from its origin.

find the source

Emphasizes the act of locating the origin, differing from extracting it.

identify the source

Focuses on pinpointing or recognizing the origin, not necessarily removing it.

determine the origin

Stresses the process of establishing or confirming the source's starting point.

locate the derivation

Stresses finding the process or method by which something is obtained.

uncover the basis

Implies revealing the foundational element or reason behind something.

discover the root

Focuses on finding the fundamental cause or beginning.

ascertain the provenance

Highlights verifying the history and origin, often in a formal context.

establish the foundation

Focuses on setting up or confirming the basis on which something stands.

pinpoint the etymology

Specifically refers to tracing the origin and development of a word.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "source something out" in a sentence?

The correct usage involves specifying what you are sourcing. For example, "We need to "source a supplier" for raw materials" is grammatically sound.

What are some alternative phrases for "source out"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "identify the origin", "find the source", or "extract the source".

Is it grammatically correct to say "source out" without specifying what is being sourced?

Generally, no. It's better to specify what you are trying to source. For example, instead of just saying "We need to source out", clarify by saying "We need to "source new talent"".

What's the difference between "source out" and "outsource"?

"Source out" typically means to identify or find a source, whereas "outsource" means to contract work to an external party. For example, a company might "outsource its IT services", or "source a new supplier" for materials.