to indicate how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to indicate how" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain the method or manner in which something is done or shown. Example: "The study aims to indicate how the new policy will affect local businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Subjects were asked to indicate how often they experienced each symptom during the previous week.

BMC Public Health

allowVar - Flag to indicate how duplication of spikes are generated.

Yale University

There are no records to indicate how he asked or cajoled them into posing for him.

The New Yorker

I nodded and smiled warmly to indicate how okay I was with pornography.

The New Yorker

It is likely to indicate how many wells must be clustered on a single pad.

The New York Times

She held up her thumb and index finger to indicate how tiny that is.

The New York Times - Food

There are no records to indicate how many private sales were conducted without background checks.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

They are very expressive animals which use their entire bodies to indicate how they feel.

Los Angeles Times

This card allowed them to indicate how many new cases of HUS they had diagnosed.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

On CalCentral, you will be able to indicate how much you want to accept.

University of California, Berkeley

Meanwhile, they were asked to indicate how heavy the effort had been during the exercise.

Sports Medicine - Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to indicate how" when you want to introduce an explanation of a process or method. It's effective for setting up instructions or detailing procedures in a clear and concise manner.

Common error

Avoid using "to indicate how" when a simpler phrase like "to show how" or "to explain how" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to indicate how" functions as an infinitive phrase that introduces a clause explaining a method, process, or manner. It connects an action with the way it is carried out. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

25%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to indicate how" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce explanations of methods or processes. Ludwig confirms its usability, and while not as common as simpler alternatives like "to show how", it holds a place in diverse contexts from science and news to academia. While versatile, avoiding overuse in favor of simpler phrases can improve clarity. Remember, while the phrase is correct, consider its formality and the audience to ensure the most appropriate tone in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to demonstrate how

Replaces "indicate" with "demonstrate", suggesting a more explicit showing.

to show how

Simplifies the phrasing while retaining the meaning of revealing a method.

to illustrate how

Uses "illustrate" to emphasize the clarification of a process or method.

to specify how

Replaces "indicate" with "specify", focusing on providing detailed information about a process.

to detail how

Emphasizes the provision of thorough information concerning a method.

to explain how

Focuses on clarifying the manner in which something occurs.

to reveal how

Emphasizes uncovering the way something is done, suggesting discovery.

to determine how

Shifts the focus to the process of finding out the method.

to ascertain how

Replaces "indicate" with "ascertain", suggesting a more formal or investigative process.

to delineate how

Uses "delineate" to emphasize a clear and precise description of a process.

FAQs

How can I use "to indicate how" in a sentence?

You can use "to indicate how" to introduce an explanation of a process or method, such as, "This guide serves to indicate how the system should be configured."

What are some alternatives to "to indicate how"?

Alternatives include phrases like "to demonstrate how", "to show how", or "to explain how", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "to indicate how" or "to show how" in formal writing?

"To indicate how" is generally more formal than "to show how". Choose the phrase that best fits the overall tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "to indicate how" and "to illustrate how"?

"To illustrate how" implies providing an example or demonstration, while "to indicate how" is a more general way of introducing an explanation of a method or process.