How to use "at the request of"

What Does "at the request of" Mean?

• Grammatical function: Indicates cause or reason; specifies that an action or event occurred because someone asked for it.
• Typical sentence position: Can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, offering flexibility in sentence structure.
• Register: Neutral to formal, suitable for professional, academic, or journalistic contexts.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: Typically followed by a noun or noun phrase specifying the person or entity making the request. Often introduces an explanation for an action that was taken. Can be preceded by a main clause detailing the action.
• Punctuation rules: When used at the beginning of a sentence, it's usually followed by a comma. When embedded within a sentence, it may be set off by commas depending on the flow and emphasis.
• Grammatical flexibility: Can start a sentence for emphasis or to clearly state the reason first. It can be moved around the sentence, though placement at the beginning is most common. The phrase itself isn't directly negated, but the action it modifies can be.
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using it in very informal contexts might sound overly formal. Overusing it in close succession can also make writing sound stilted.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from at the request of on Ludwig.guru.

"At the request of Mayor David N." — The New York Times

"Prepared at the request of Herbert Hoover." — Stanford University

"In 1934, at the request of Mr. Sopwith, the challenger." — The New Yorker

"A quote was removed at the request of an interviewee." — The Guardian

"At the request of the family, services will be private." — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/at+the+request+of

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
upon the request of	Slightly more formal and emphatic.
as requested by	More direct and concise; suitable for instructions or commands.
on the instruction of	Implies a formal directive or order, often from someone in authority.
due to a request from	More conversational and explanatory.
because someone asked	Simple and informal; suitable for casual contexts.
at someone's urging	Implies strong encouragement or persuasion, not just a simple request.
on the application of	More formal and specific, usually refers to a written request or application.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect placement within the sentence can disrupt the flow. Ensure it's logically connected to the action it explains.
• Forgetting the comma after the phrase when it begins a sentence can lead to run-on sentences.
• Learners sometimes confuse it with similar phrases like 'on behalf of,' which implies acting as a representative rather than due to someone's request.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
at the request of	Indicates cause or reason; specifies an action was performed because someone asked.	Neutral to formal	Initial, medial, or final

FAQs

Where can "at the request of" appear in a sentence?

At the request of can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Placing it at the beginning emphasizes the reason for the action, while placing it at the end provides a concluding explanation. Its flexibility allows you to adjust the sentence for desired emphasis.

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How does "at the request of" differ from "on behalf of"?

"At the request of" means something was done because someone asked for it, indicating cause. "On behalf of" means acting as a representative or in the interest of someone, implying agency and support, rather than direct causation from a request.

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What's a common mistake when using "at the request of", and how can I avoid it?

A common mistake is confusing "at the request of" with "on behalf of". Remember that "at the request of" indicates that an action was performed because someone asked for it, while "on behalf of" means acting as a representative for someone.