For what for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "For what for" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of phrases and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "For what for do we need to gather here?" (This is incorrect and should be rephrased).

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"For what?" "For clearing me a path".

The New Yorker

"For what?" "For everything.

The Guardian - Books

For what? "For who knows.

The Guardian - Music

"For what?" "For giving you away".

The New Yorker

For what, for marrying out of the faith?

The New York Times - Magazine

"For what?" "For rushing us out of the apartment, and for how I acted on the subway.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Everywhere she walked here, under the chestnut trees with their flat gold leaves, and the red-limbed arbutus, and the tall Garry oaks, which suggested fairy stories, European forests, woodcutters, witches -- everywhere her footsteps reproached her, saying what-for, what-for, what-for.

The New York Times

For what? Carolyn, for what?

The New Yorker

"For what, Ma?" "For the good glasses".

The New Yorker

For what has morality done for animals?

The New York Times

If fees are great for airlines, what about for us?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "For what for" in your writing. Instead, use the grammatically correct and more widely accepted alternative "What for".

Common error

Using "For what for" is redundant. The word "for" is already included in "what for", making the extra "for" unnecessary and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "For what for" is intended as an interrogative phrase to inquire about the reason or purpose of something. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "For what for" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal contexts. Ludwig confirms its incorrectness and suggests using the more appropriate alternative "what for" or "for what purpose" to inquire about the reason or purpose of something. Using correct grammar ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What for

This is a shorter, grammatically correct way to ask the reason or purpose.

What is the reason for

This phrase explicitly asks the explanation behind something.

For what purpose

This is a more formal way to ask about the reason behind something.

What is this for

This seeks clarification on the use or function of something.

What's the point of

This phrase emphasizes the lack of sense or value in doing something.

Why

This is a direct and simple way to ask for the reason.

What's the idea behind

This asks about the underlying concept or rationale.

What reason

This focuses on the reason behind an action or decision.

On what account

This is a more formal and less common way to ask for the justification.

To what end

This asks about the ultimate goal or result.

FAQs

What is a correct alternative to "For what for"?

The correct and commonly used alternative is "what for". It conveys the same meaning without the grammatical error.

Is "For what for" grammatically correct?

No, "For what for" is grammatically incorrect. It's considered a redundant and non-standard way of asking for the reason or purpose of something. Use "what for" instead.

When is it appropriate to use "For what for"?

It's generally not appropriate to use "For what for" in any formal or informal writing or speech. It's best to stick to the standard and grammatically correct alternative, "what for".

What does "For what for" mean?

"For what for" is intended to ask the reason or purpose of something, but it's grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this is by using "what for" or "for what purpose".