where not applicable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "where not applicable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that certain information or a requirement does not apply in specific situations or contexts. Example: "Please fill out the form completely, leaving blank any sections where not applicable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses were followed [39], except where not applicable.

Sports Medicine - Open

The association between severity of acute reactions to radiotherapy and SNPs genotype was determined from odds ratios, confidence intervals and significance level or, where not applicable, Fisher's Exact tests.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We finally selected the intron position where both 5' and 3' scores were the greatest or, in cases where this was not applicable, where the sum of both scores was the greatest.

BMC Genomics

(b) In situations where sampling is not applicable due to long time production of reservoir.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

In situations where sampling is not applicable due to long time production of reservoir.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Additional approaches for this more recent time period could provide important information for understanding the vegetation changes in the past 200 years especially where dendrochronology is not applicable.

Quaternary International

Where it is not applicable, it is seems flagrantly immoral.

Huffington Post

Where referents were not applicable the normative belief was coded to zero while all other normative beliefs were coded from −2 (strongly disagree) to +2 (strongly agree).

AIDS and Behavior

There are certain cases where margins are not applicable.

WikiHow

"But it's not applicable where you're having a hard time attracting and retaining a qualified work force".

The New York Times

There are some places where this rule is not applicable.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "where not applicable" to clearly indicate instances where a specific rule, requirement, or field does not apply to the current situation. This avoids confusion and clarifies instructions.

Common error

Avoid using "where not applicable" when a simpler, more direct explanation would suffice. For instance, instead of writing "Enter your age, where not applicable if under 18," write "Enter your age if you are 18 or older."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "where not applicable" functions as a relative clause introducing a condition or exception. It clarifies that a particular instruction or requirement does not apply in certain situations, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "where not applicable" is a relative clause used to specify situations in which a particular rule or instruction does not apply. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in scientific and technical contexts. While "where not applicable" is useful for clarity, be mindful of overuse and consider more direct language when possible. Alternatives like "if not relevant" or "when inapplicable" can sometimes be more appropriate. It's most effective in formal writing "where clarity is important", such as in legal or academic documents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

where it does not apply

A more formal restatement of the original query.

if not relevant

Focuses on the relevance of the condition, rather than its applicability.

when not relevant

Specifies a time-based condition for non-relevance.

if it doesn't apply

More informal, focusing on the act of applying something.

when it doesn't apply

Specifies a time-based condition for something not applying.

if unnecessary

Highlights the lack of necessity rather than applicability.

where it is unnecessary

Highlights the lack of necessity rather than applicability in certain places.

when inappropriate

Emphasizes the inappropriateness of applying something.

if unsuitable

Focuses on the suitability of applying something.

when it is not the case

General condition when something is not true.

FAQs

How can I use "where not applicable" in a sentence?

Use "where not applicable" to indicate situations in a process or form when a particular step or field doesn't need to be filled out. For instance, "Complete sections A and B; section C "where not applicable"."

What's a good alternative to "where not applicable"?

Consider using phrases like "if not relevant" or "when inapplicable" as alternatives to "where not applicable", depending on the context.

Is it better to leave a field blank or write "N/A" where something is not applicable?

While both leaving a field blank and writing "N/A" are common, it's best to follow any specific instructions provided. If there are no instructions, using "N/A" can provide clarity and prevent the assumption that the field was simply overlooked.

When is it appropriate to use "where not applicable" in formal writing?

It is appropriate in scenarios "where clarity is important" to prevent confusion, such as in legal documents, surveys, or technical manuals. However, always ensure that the phrase aligns with the overall tone and style of the document.