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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
Source out
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"source out" is not correct or usable in written English
To use it colloquially, you could say "source something out" or "source it out," meaning to find a source of something. For example, "We need to source out a better supplier for this product."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
34 human-written examples
As Alastair Campbell put it in his diary: "The biggest thing needed was the source out", in order to "fuck Gilligan".
News & Media
"There is no prohibition on them taking people out - all we said is 'perhaps you ought to take a source out and get some stories instead'".
News & Media
Neither Mr. Siegel nor Ms. Totenberg, nor Ms. Montagne nor Mr. Kernis, said they would miss those times when Washington sources might not have heard of an NPR reporter — or the reporter might not have the money to take a source out to lunch.
News & Media
"Do they seek a source out, or do they sidestep it?" says Bharat.
News & Media
The Parrs and Lucius team up to fight the robot, until Bob uses Syndrome's remote control and one of the Omnidroid's detached pincers to make it tear its power source out, destroying it.
Wiki
The situation in his father's campaign at the time warranted hearing the source out, he said, noting his "sirens" didn't even go off because Russia, at the time, "wasn't this big news story".
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
25 human-written examples
The literature indicates that some of the factors that impact health facility efficiency include, for example, catchment population, distance, location (urban/rural), ownership (profit/not-for-profit), teaching status, payment source (out-of-pocket/health insurance), occupancy rate, average length of stay, outpatient visits as a proportion of inpatient days, and quality [25, 38, 39].
Science
From her sources out in the street, she said, she was told that gangs like the Crips and Bloods were trying to make inroads in Stamford.
News & Media
For those who dream of a post-Snowden utopia where no government and corporate secrets are protected, @YourAnonNews is one of the only trustworthy news sources out there.
News & Media
This is something that other companies could do when it comes to sourcing out tasks to its users.
News & Media
There are multiple sources out there and they will tell the benefits and drawbacks of all of them.
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
✓ Best practice
Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "source out", use phrases like "find a source" or "identify a source" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing. If you mean to outsource, use "outsource".
⚠ Common error
Avoid using "source out" as a verb phrase. It's generally better to use "source something out" or rephrase your sentence to use more standard grammatical structures, such as "find a source" or just "outsource."
Linguistic Context
The phrase "source out" functions primarily in contexts related to finding or identifying origins, but its usage is not grammatically standard. As Ludwig AI points out, the construction is generally considered incorrect.
Expression frequency: Common
✓ Frequent in
News & Media
37%
Science
31%
Wiki
14%
⚠ Less common in
Formal & Business
8%
Encyclopedias
5%
Reference
5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "source out" appears in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Science, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it’s better to rephrase using constructions like "find a source" or "source something out". The phrase aims to convey the action of identifying or obtaining a source, but due to its grammatical issues, it is best avoided in formal writing. Instead, opting for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives will improve the overall quality and precision of your writing.
Alternative expressions
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
find a source
Focuses on the action of discovering or locating a source.
identify a source
Emphasizes the act of recognizing or determining a specific source.
locate the origin
Highlights the process of pinpointing the starting point or root.
determine the source
Underscores the act of establishing or confirming the source.
seek out the origin
Implies a more active search for the starting point.
track down the source
Suggests a detailed investigation to discover the source.
More alternative expressions(6)
FAQs
How can I use "source out" correctly?
While "source out" itself isn't grammatically correct, you can say "source something out", meaning to find a source for something. For instance, "We need to source a new supplier /s/find+a+supplier".
What's a better alternative to "source out"?
Alternatives include using phrases like "find a source", "identify a source", or simply using the verb "outsource" if you mean to delegate a task to an external provider.
Is "source out" grammatically correct?
No, "source out" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "find a source" or "source something out" to convey the intended meaning clearly.
What does "source something out" mean?
"Source something out" means to find the origin or supplier of something, especially when looking for a particular resource or service. It's closely related to the concept of outsourcing or "contract out".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested