supplemental to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supplemental to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is additional or complementary to something else. Example: "The new policy is supplemental to the existing guidelines and aims to enhance overall efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Offline schools will become supplemental to online education," he predicted.

The New York Times

He saw his writing as supplemental to whatever he might end up doing.

The New Yorker

But Mr. Kohut, Pew's director, says that such use is still largely supplemental to consumption of the traditional news media.

The New York Times

Mr. Lanzone noted that for now, online TV viewing was largely supplemental to traditional viewing.

The New York Times

"An Asia fund would be a supplemental holding, and you want your supplemental to diversify a lot from your core holdings," he said.

The New York Times

As such, we would expect contract awards from the US supplemental to be a source of potential upside earnings risk for BAE".

The Guardian - Business

"I don't think this is on a track to be anything but an alternative, supplemental to the official definition," she said.

The New York Times

Yet the milestone is largely symbolic because Comcast and Netflix do not directly compete; Comcast is available only in certain parts of the country, and Netflix is largely supplemental to the services provided by cable and satellite operators.

The New York Times

It came to the fairly logical conclusion that as long as virtual visits are supplemental to the real thing, are not cost-prohibitive and that the calls can be frequent and made from home or from a nearby site, then they can be a very good thing.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Supplemental to Table 1): Additional Characteristics of the included studies.

Progress in Orthodontics

Traditionally, it's been seen as the source of simple (or ineffectual) micro-correspondence courses designed to be supplemental to — not a replacement for — on-campus education.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "supplemental to", ensure that the primary element it supports is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying 'This is supplemental', specify 'This data is supplemental to the main report'.

Common error

Avoid using "supplemental to" when the added element is actually more important than the original. Using "integral to" or "foundational for" might be more appropriate in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supplemental to" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating that something is added to support or enhance something else. As Ludwig indicates, the usage of the phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supplemental to" is a prepositional phrase that indicates something is added to enhance or support something else. Ludwig's analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the relationship between the primary and supporting elements is clear, and that "supplemental to" is not mistaken for terms like "integral to", which implies necessity rather than addition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in addition to

Indicates that something is added to what already exists, providing more information or elements.

complementary to

Highlights that something enhances or completes something else, often suggesting a beneficial combination.

auxiliary to

Suggests a supporting or helping role, where one thing aids another.

ancillary to

Similar to auxiliary, but often implies a less critical or essential role.

additional to

Simply means more is being added, without necessarily implying a specific relationship.

extra to

Indicates something is provided beyond what is normally expected or required.

over and above

Implies that something is beyond or exceeds what is already present or needed.

along with

Indicates that something is included or happens at the same time as something else.

besides

Suggests that something is added as an additional consideration or element.

on top of

Indicates that something is added to something else, often implying it's not essential.

FAQs

How can I use "supplemental to" in a sentence?

You can use "supplemental to" to indicate that something is added to enhance or support something else. For example, "The online course is supplemental to the textbook."

What's an alternative to using "supplemental to" in my writing?

You can use alternatives like "in addition to", "complementary to", or "auxiliary to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "supplemental to" the same as "supplementary to"?

Yes, "supplemental to" and "supplementary to" are largely interchangeable. Both mean providing something additional or extra. However, "supplemental to" is often preferred in American English.

How does "supplemental to" differ from "integral to"?

"Supplemental to" means something is added to enhance or support, while "integral to" means something is essential or necessary for completeness. They convey opposite relationships.