substituted by vs substituted for

Both "substituted by" and "substituted for" are commonly used phrases in English, but they are used in different contexts. "Substituted by" is used when mentioning the replacement of someone or something with another, while "substituted for" is used when referring to the action of taking the place of someone or something.

Last updated: March 30, 2024

substituted by

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to the replacement of someone or something with another.

Use "substituted by" when indicating that someone or something is being replaced by another person or thing.

Examples:

In the recipe, butter can be substituted by margarine.
The injured player was substituted by a younger athlete.
The old system was substituted by a more efficient one.

Show examples from the web [+]

In the former, consumption fell dramatically because the product concerned was substituted by other products.
Milk cannot be substituted by any other product and is not comparable to any known natural or synthetic substance.
Indeed, the investigation had established that the quantities used for captive use, by the companies concerned in the Union, could in principle be substituted by purchased glass fibres, e.g. if market circumstances and/or financial considerations would trigger such a change.
However, some measures underpinning the budget have been rejected by the parliament either in full or in part and therefore need to be substituted by new measures.
They will not be substituted by purchases elsewhere.
Life jackets for infants may be substituted by other approved flotation devices equipped with a survivor locator light.
These goals are very difficult to attain, and should be substituted by targets both more realistic and qualitative in nature.
This is generally explained by the fact that okoumé plywood has to a certain extent been substituted by other tropical wood species, such as red canarium, bankirai or meranti.
In the case of ovine and caprine animals for slaughter, the approved assembly centre may be substituted by approved dealer's premises situated in the Member State of origin.
Plan having been substituted by another plan, or not being any longer in force.
However, the Union industry could not benefit fully from these measures since the market shares of these countries have been substituted by low priced Chinese imports.
The EESC maintains that Regulation 4056/86 should be repealed and substituted by a new Commission Regulation for liner conferences granting a block exemption.
The main text represents an intrusion into private life, basic human and citizens' rights are defined in a narrow way, social rights are substituted by state objectives.
Data referred to in paragraph 2(f) may be substituted by safety critical data relating to the maintenance schedule.
For the purpose of uncertainty calculation only, hourly N2O concentrations below 20 mg/Nm3 shall be substituted by a default value of 20 mg/Nm3.
For portable tanks intended for the carriage of a single non-refrigerated liquefied gas, the 2,5 year internal examination may be waived or substituted by other test methods specified by the competent authority or its authorized body.
Where batches received by a collector are subdivided for delivery to more than one operator, the accompanying documents may be substituted by appropriate transport container labels, provided that the latter include the information referred to in paragraph 1.
Fuel, battery acid and other combustible, explosive or corrosive materials may be substituted by other materials provided that the conditions prescribed in paragraph 1.1. above are met.
Oxygen binding copolymer (as determined by the ASTM D 1434 and 3985 methods), obtained from benzenedicarboxylic acids, ethylene glycol and polybutadiene substituted by hydroxy groups
In the longer term, when investments in research and new technologies will be bearing fruit, energy demand can be even more reduced and, in particular, limited or otherwise problematic sources of energy can be substituted by alternatives.

Alternatives:

replaced by
exchanged for
swapped with
traded for
changed with

substituted for

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to taking the place of someone or something.

Use "substituted for" when indicating that someone or something is taking the place of another person or thing.