grammaticalityprepositionsverbs
I'm working on a scientific paper and I want to convey the idea that I have obtained some data by using a certain source. The phrase I wrote was:
The turbulent fluxes at the air-sea interface are estimated by using in-situ data from a moored buoy of the Prediction and Research Moored Array over the Tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Is the by in the phrase correctly used?
If you provide for [someone/something in need] without specifying exactly what, it means you make available to them whatever they need - often food (provisions/provender). You can also provide for [some eventuality] without specifying what, meaning you have plans/resources to deal with that eventuality should it come to pass. Both these usages have been around a long time, and always involve for, not to.
To provide [something] to [someone] is a far more recent usage...
Per @JeffSahol's answer, provide X to Y often implies that Y did actually receive X, whereas provide X for Y can be used even if Y doesn't avail himself of the X which is on offer. But often it's an idiomatic choice where people repeat the version they hear most. Other than that, the modern trend towards to clearly disambiguates from the first two usages given above.
To my ear it depends upon context:
Qualified in implies that there is a formal process of qualification. For instance, "I qualified in marksmanship."
Qualified for implies that you have satisfied enough requirements to meet criteria. "I qualified for acceptance into the program." "I qualified for a loan."
You can also say "I am qualified for the job." But you wouldn't say "I am qualified in the job." - unless there is a formal process for doing so.
This may have some dialectical variation, and I am speaking strictly from the POV of a native American English speaker. (e.g. I believe the British speak of qualifying in school levels which we do not use in AE.)
As to your usage above: it sounds strange to my ear without context to back it up. As I have said, it largely depends upon how it was meant. If you meant, "I was advanced due to winning" then yes it is correct. If you meant, "I was able to compete because I had the necessary experience," then I would use "qualified for."
Best Answer
The usage of "by using" is often encountered in scientific articles and literature. I suppose your example is from a similar source.