useful to advise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "useful to advise" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express that something is beneficial for giving advice, but the construction is awkward. Example: "It is useful to advise clients on financial matters."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Whilst the above is a no-brainer for anyone who's been using Twitter for a while, it may be useful to advise newcomers who could otherwise become inundated with tweets and subsequently with text messages.

TechCrunch

I found it useful to advise a patient contemplating suicide -- including a woman with a lethal dose of barbiturates always in her purse -- that while I, as a therapist, would do my best to dissuade the patient, and to point out what life still had to offer him, it was the patient, rather than I, who bore total responsibility for any suicidal actions the patient took.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Such a notion permits Thomas to advise us to seek naturally what is useful to us.

SEP

Your duty is to advise people.

The New York Times

Due to the complexity of the subject it seems to be necessary to advise and support spacecraft designers, manufacturers, suppliers, operators, etc. to handle it, ideally in the form of a commercially useful 'End-to-End Service'.

Advances in Space Research

MP Clwyd to advise on NHS complaints.

BBC

There was no one to advise me.

Science Magazine

Choose who you allow to advise you.

Los Angeles Times

Ability to advise others.

Unicef

Listen carefully, and be careful to advise.

WikiHow

They will know how to advise you.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, rephrase "useful to advise" with stronger verbs that explicitly describe the action of advising, such as "helpful in guiding" or "valuable for counseling".

Common error

Do not use "useful to advise" when a more direct phrase clarifies the purpose of the advice. For example, instead of saying "This data is useful to advise policy makers", specify how it helps: "This data helps inform policy makers".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "useful to advise" functions as a purpose connector, indicating that something is beneficial for the act of giving advice. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's not the most grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "useful to advise" is understandable, it's not the most grammatically correct or commonly used expression. Ludwig AI suggests it's better to opt for clearer alternatives such as "helpful for guiding", "valuable for recommending", or "beneficial for counseling", depending on the context and desired formality. Although it appears in news, science, and wiki sources, its usage is infrequent. It's advisable to use more direct and grammatically sound constructions in both formal and informal writing to enhance clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

helpful for guiding

Replaces "useful" with "helpful" and rephrases "advise" as "guiding" to emphasize assistance.

beneficial for counseling

Substitutes "useful" with "beneficial" and "advise" with "counseling" to suggest a more formal approach.

instrumental in directing

Uses "instrumental" instead of "useful" and "directing" instead of "advise" to imply a significant role in providing guidance.

valuable for recommending

Replaces "useful" with "valuable" and "advise" with "recommending" to focus on suggesting specific actions.

advantageous for suggesting

Substitutes "useful" with "advantageous" and "advise" with "suggesting" to indicate a beneficial contribution of ideas.

good to guide

Simplifies the phrasing by using "good" instead of "useful" and "guide" instead of "advise", making it more direct.

helpful to counsel

Uses "helpful" and "counsel" instead of the original terms to present a more supportive tone.

effective for advising

Focuses on the effectiveness of advising rather than its usefulness, changing the emphasis slightly.

important for guiding

Emphasizes the importance of guiding, shifting the focus from mere usefulness to necessity.

wise to suggest

Highlights the wisdom in making suggestions, changing the tone to one of thoughtful consideration.

FAQs

What's a clearer way to say "useful to advise"?

Consider alternatives like "helpful for guiding", "valuable for recommending", or "beneficial for counseling". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey. For example: "helpful for guiding" focuses on aid in direction, while "valuable for recommending" emphasizes the worth of suggestions.

Is "useful to advise" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "useful to advise" is not the most grammatically sound construction. It's generally better to use phrases like "helpful in advising" or "useful for advising" for improved clarity and adherence to standard English grammar. For instance, saying "helpful in advising" more directly expresses the act of giving advice.

How can I use "useful to advise" in a sentence?

While not ideal, if you must use it, ensure the sentence structure is clear. A better approach is to rephrase. Instead of "The information was useful to advise the client", try "The information was helpful for advising the client" or "The information aided in advising the client". The construction "aided in advising" adds precision.

What are some formal alternatives to "useful to advise"?

For formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "instrumental in guiding", "beneficial for counseling", or "advantageous for suggesting". These options are more sophisticated and suitable for professional or academic writing. Using "instrumental in guiding" suggests a critical role, enhancing the statement's impact.