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Prepositions after verbs

Classify as or classify into?

Use classify as to give a label or status. Use classify into to place things in categories or groups.

Quick answer

Classify as vs. classify into

Classify as is used for assigning a label, type, or status: classify the disease as rare. Classify into is used for dividing items into groups: classify books into genres.

The report was classified as confidential.
The samples were classified into three categories.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
classify as + category

Giving a label or status

Use classify as when you name the type, role, or status of someone or something.

Doctors classified the condition as severe.
The court classified the material as evidence.
2
classify into + groups

Dividing things into categories

Use classify into when separating items into different groups.

Researchers classified the responses into four themes.
The librarian classified the books into age groups.
3
classify by + feature

Showing the basis for classification

Use by to state the feature or criterion used for sorting.

The files are classified by date.
Plants can be classified by size and colour.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
classify as
They classified the document as secret.
Assign a label, type, or status.
classify into
The teacher classified the animals into groups.
Divide items into categories.
classify by
The data is classified by region.
State the system or criterion used.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using classify into for a single label

Use classify as when giving one description or status.

✕ The substance was classified into dangerous. ✓ The substance was classified as dangerous.

Forgetting the object after into

Classify into normally introduces groups or categories.

✕ The papers were classified into. ✓ The papers were classified into folders.

Mixing as and into

Do not combine both structures in one phrase.

✕ The items were classified as into types. ✓ The items were classified into types.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The report was classified ___ confidential.
2. The scientist classified the samples ___ three groups.
3. The photos are classified ___ year.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say classify as being?

Yes, but it is often more natural to use classify as plus an adjective or noun, such as classify as illegal.

Is classify into always followed by a number of groups?

No. It can be followed by any kind of category or grouping, such as classify into topics.

Can classify be used without a preposition?

Yes. You can say classify data, but a preposition is often added to explain the result or method.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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