useful of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "useful of" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a mistaken combination of words and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English. Example: "The tool is useful of helping with complex calculations." (This should be corrected to "The tool is useful for helping with complex calculations.")

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Allstate's Digital Locker, which is free for anyone to download and use, might be the most useful of all the apps.

Huffington Post

Dual is far and away the most useful of the three — in fact, it's really the one compelling use case for the handset.

TechCrunch

Let's make something useful of this, shall we?" Everything in my drip felt Grade A. Suddenly I was waxing poetic.

The New Yorker

The lesson that came out of that experience is arguably the most useful of the 11: "empathize with your enemy".

The New York Times

Once the killing got under way in Bosnia, the major powers did begin to find the U.N. useful, of course.

The New Yorker

QUESTION FROM RON KANE: I found the most useful of the theories you covered to be the "multiple selves" concept.

The New Yorker

The additional income will, be useful, of course, helping fund innovation and research as well as more routine activities.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

(Brad DeLong has a useful summary of some early reviews).

The New Yorker

The Surge's biggest problem is the lack of useful analysis of the data it tracks.

The Guardian - Tech

The loss is of "the useful monotony of happiness".

The New York Times - Books

Be mindful of the useful nature of having scorpions around.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and correctness, replace the phrase "useful of" with more conventional options like "useful for", "helpful for", or "beneficial to".

Common error

Avoid using "of" directly after "useful" to indicate purpose or benefit. Instead, opt for prepositions like "for" or "to", as in "useful for learning" or "useful to students".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "useful of" functions incorrectly as an adjective attempting to describe something beneficial or helpful. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically unsound in standard English. While the intent is clear, the construction deviates from accepted usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "useful of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's better to use alternatives like "useful for", "helpful for", or "beneficial to". While examples of its usage can be found across diverse sources, ranging from scientific publications to news media, these instances don't validate its correctness. Therefore, for clarity and adherence to grammatical norms, it's advisable to avoid "useful of" in favor of its more established counterparts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

useful for

Changes the preposition to indicate purpose or suitability.

beneficial for

Replaces "useful" with a synonym emphasizing positive impact.

helpful for

Substitutes "useful" with a synonym highlighting assistance.

advantageous for

Uses a more formal synonym indicating a favorable position.

of use to

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the recipient of the utility.

serves to

Focuses on the function or purpose that something fulfills.

contributes to

Highlights the positive contribution made by something.

aids in

Emphasizes the assistance provided in a process or activity.

facilitates

Uses a verb form to indicate making something easier or more likely.

promotes

Highlights the encouragement or furthering of a particular outcome.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "useful" in a sentence?

The adjective "useful" is typically followed by prepositions such as "for" or "to". For example, something can be "useful for studying" or "useful to students."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "useful of"?

Instead of "useful of", consider using phrases like "useful for", "helpful for", or "beneficial to" to convey a similar meaning with correct grammar.

Which is the correct phrase, "useful of" or "useful for"?

"Useful for" is the grammatically correct phrase to use. "Useful of" is not standard English.

What does it mean when something is described as "useful for" a specific purpose?

When something is "useful for" a purpose, it means that it is effective or helpful in achieving that specific purpose. The degree of utility depends on its contribution and suitability.