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The preposition 'from' to show source

English Language & Usage Asked by ExOrbitant on April 21, 2021

Referring to this lexico definition of from, I’m aware of the usages 3 (Indicating the source or provenance of someone or something) and 6 (Indicating the raw material out of which something is manufactured).

I wanted to reassure myself by asking you if these interpretations of ‘from’ can also be applied to cases like the following? My understanding of the sentences comes after the equality sign (=):

  1. This parameter was computed from experimental data = Experimental data was used to compute this parameter.
  2. The model was created from experimentally measured data that served to parameterise Equation 10 = Experimental measured data that served to parameterise Equation 10 was used to create the model

2 Answers

Yes. Your understanding is good. The overarching meaning of from indicates the origin of its object.

Answered by Greybeard on April 21, 2021

In both those cases I would write using. For example "This model was created using experimental data" I would say this because the model does not consist of the data but of algorithms and computational routines developed to reflect the relationships between the experimental data to calculate outcomes.

This is different from "This omelette was made from free range eggs" (the omlette consists of the proteins, fats and other nutrients making up the eggs, just in a different physical form) and "This house was built from local stone" (the walls consist of actual lumps of stone)

Answered by BoldBen on April 21, 2021

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