I started rooting for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I started rooting for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing support or encouragement for someone or something, often in the context of sports, competitions, or personal endeavors. Example: "As the tournament progressed, I started rooting for the underdog team, hoping they would pull off an upset."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I started rooting for her.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He said, "You just get riled up as I watch them, and then I start rooting for a team to win, and that's not really what I want to be doing".

The New York Times - Sports

"I think people started rooting for me about the second hole, when I made birdie, and Tiger made bogey.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think they started rooting for me then," May said.

The New York Times - Sports

So I did what every other New York City boy did in 1976 -- started rooting for the Yankees.

Huffington Post

Truth be told, we actually started rooting for his mother.

The New York Times - Magazine

Yet when Mr. Campbell's name surfaced recently, many of the Met's seasoned curators started rooting for him.

The New York Times - Arts

He came to New York in 1979 from Kansas City, Mo., as a Royals fan and started rooting for the Mets.

The New York Times - Sports

He said he grew up on Long Island following the Mets, held Wizards season tickets for 18 years and recently started rooting for the Redskins.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Chen became interested in basketball while studying for an executive M.B.A. at the University of Chicago and started rooting for the Chicago Bulls, Mr. Stern said.

The New York Times

His father was a German immigrant who discovered baseball — and started rooting for the Yankees — after fighting at Iwo Jima under Hank Bauer, who became an All-Star outfielder.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I started rooting for" to clearly and simply express that you began to support a particular person, team, or cause. It's suitable for informal conversations and writings.

Common error

Avoid using "I started rooting for" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "I began to support" or "I became an advocate for" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I started rooting for" functions as a statement of support or encouragement. It indicates the beginning of a personal inclination towards a particular person, team, or idea. Ludwig shows this phrase used in diverse contexts, all expressing a commencement of support.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I started rooting for" is a phrase used to express the commencement of support or encouragement for someone or something. It's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While appropriate for informal and neutral settings, more formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or professional writing. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a well-understood and commonly used expression in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I began supporting

Replaces "started rooting" with a more general term for providing support.

I started backing

Similar to 'supporting' but may imply a more active form of encouragement.

I became a fan of

Indicates the beginning of fandom or strong liking.

I found myself cheering for

Highlights an unexpected or unintentional development of support.

I turned into a supporter of

Emphasizes a change in allegiance or preference.

I grew to favor

Suggests a gradual increase in preference.

I threw my support behind

Implies a deliberate and active decision to support.

I developed an affinity for

Indicates the development of a natural liking or connection.

I switched my allegiance to

Expresses a complete change of loyalty.

I became an advocate for

Signifies a more formal and active role in promoting or defending something.

FAQs

What does "I started rooting for" mean?

It means you began to support or encourage someone or something, like a sports team or a person in a competition.

What can I say instead of "I started rooting for"?

You can use alternatives like "I began supporting", "I became a fan of", or "I started backing".

Is "I started rooting for" too informal?

While generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "I began to support" or "I threw my support behind" in professional or academic contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "I started rooting for"?

It's appropriate in casual conversations, blog posts, and informal writing where a friendly and relatable tone is desired.