Which patterns go with synthesize?

Two natural patterns are synthesize A and B and synthesize insights from several sources. The first names the material being joined. The second names both the material and where it came from.

Use “synthesize A and B” for named inputs

When two inputs matter, place both after the verb and join them with and.

"The team synthesized interview data and survey results."

Here, interview data is A and survey results is B. The sentence says that the team brought both kinds of material into one coherent whole.

The same pattern works when the nouns are different in form. A committee can synthesize resident comments and traffic data. A book club can synthesize three reviews and its own discussion. The two parts do not need to look alike. They only need to supply material for the synthesis.

Do not use this pattern for a simple list that stays separate. The verb promises a coherent whole, even when the sentence does not name that whole.

Use “from” to identify sources

The from pattern tells the reader where the combined material came from.

"We synthesized the risk themes from stakeholder interviews."

The direct object is the risk themes. The interviews are the sources. This order keeps the grammar clear: first name the material being synthesized, then name its origin.

Another natural form is synthesize insights from six interviews. The number of interviews makes the multiple-source idea clear. The verb still takes insights as its direct object.

You can use from with a plural source or with a list of sources. For example, synthesize evidence from sales, finance, and support names three places where the evidence came from.

Choose “and” or “from” by the detail you need

Use A and B when the inputs themselves are the focus. Use from when the origin of the material matters.

• synthesize interview data and survey results names two inputs
• synthesize insights from several sources names the material and its origin

The patterns can also appear in one longer sentence, but do not add words that the reader does not need. Choose the form that makes the source structure easiest to follow.

Keep a direct object after the verb

Say synthesized the comments, not synthesized about the comments. Synthesize takes its material as a direct object. About does not belong between the verb and that object.

The forms change in the usual way: synthesizes, synthesized, and synthesizing. The US spelling is synthesize. Synthesise is a standard British form. Both spellings use the same patterns.

Practice scenarios

Practice choosing between the two patterns.

• name interview data and survey results as two inputs
• state that risk themes came from stakeholder interviews
• combine resident comments with traffic data without inserting about

Try these practice phrases.

• "The team synthesized interview data and survey results."
• "We synthesized the risk themes from stakeholder interviews."
• "The committee synthesized resident comments and traffic data."

Use and to name the inputs. Use from to name their source. Keep the material tied straight to the verb.