English UsageGrammar guide

Applicable To: Standard Pattern

Applicable To: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

Quick answer

Use “applicable to” when saying that a rule, condition, qualification, or other matter affects or relates to someone or something.

Key details

Confusion Familyusage-construction
Rule Familyadjective complement
Termsapplicable to, be applicable to something

Further guidance

Construction

Use “applicable to” when saying that a rule, condition, qualification, or other matter affects or relates to someone or something.

Style Boundary

Cambridge also records uses such as “where applicable,” so the “to” construction is documented here without treating it as mandatory in every use.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. APPLICABLE | English meaning — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Direct dictionary evidence for “applicable to” when something affects or relates to a person or thing.

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Absent From: Standard Pattern

Absent From: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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Accountable For: Standard Pattern

Accountable For: Standard Pattern records the directly documented Cambridge construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced complement pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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Acquainted With: Standard Pattern

Acquainted With: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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Addicted To: Standard Pattern

Addicted To: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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Adept At: Standard Pattern

Adept At: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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Adjacent To: Standard Pattern

Adjacent To: Standard Pattern records the directly documented construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced complement pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.

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