a fondness for

USAGE SUMMARY

"a fondness for" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's feeling of fondness or liking towards something. For example, "He had a fondness for animals and dedicated much of his time to volunteering at the local animal shelter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He has a fondness for baby chickens.

The New York Times - Arts

One is a fondness for plagiarism.

The Economist

He has a fondness for Elizabeth Taylor, too.

The New Yorker

She had a fondness for angels.

The New York Times

A fondness for consumption and shopping malls?

The New York Times - Books

And a fondness for lamb chops.

The New York Times

He had a fondness for basic humor.

The New Yorker

("Potter had a fondness for bananas that was almost obscene").

The New York Times

He clearly has a fondness for this park.

The New York Times - Sports

British NGOs have a fondness for "focal groups".

The Economist

And a fondness for "The Shawshank Redemption" would not hurt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fondness for" when you want to express a gentle liking or affection for something. It's more subtle than "love" but stronger than "like".

Common error

While "a fondness for" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in formal academic or business writing. Opt for more precise language to convey specific preferences or appreciations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fondness for" functions as a prepositional phrase. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a feeling of affection, liking, or partiality towards something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fondness for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that expresses a gentle liking or affection. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its usage is deemed correct and versatile across numerous contexts, including news media, formal documents, and casual conversation. While highly common, writers should be mindful of potential overuse in highly formal contexts, opting for more precise language when appropriate. Alternatives like "a liking for" or "a preference for" may offer stylistic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a liking for

Replaces "fondness" with "liking", a more common and less formal synonym.

an affection for

Substitutes "fondness" with "affection", suggesting a deeper emotional connection.

a preference for

Indicates a choice or favor towards something, rather than a general affection.

a taste for

Implies a developed appreciation or enjoyment of something.

a soft spot for

Suggests a particular tenderness or vulnerability towards something.

an appreciation of

Highlights the recognition and enjoyment of the qualities of something.

an inclination towards

Indicates a tendency or leaning towards something.

a partiality to

Signifies a bias or favoritism towards something.

a proclivity for

Denotes a natural or habitual inclination towards something.

a weakness for

Implies an inability to resist something, often something pleasurable.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a fondness for"?

You can use alternatives like "a liking for", "a preference for", or "an affection for" depending on the context.

How to use "a fondness for" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's gentle liking or affection towards something, such as "He has a fondness for classical music".

Which is correct, "a fondness for" or "a fondness of"?

"A fondness for" is the correct and idiomatic expression. "A fondness of" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "a fondness for" and "a preference for"?

"A fondness for" implies a general liking or affection, while ""a preference for"" suggests a deliberate choice or favor towards something over other options.