a fondness of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fondness of" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "a fondness for." You can use "a fondness for" when expressing a liking or affection for something or someone.
Example: "She has a fondness for classical music, often attending concerts and recitals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"We're facing a fondness of anything coming from the West.

The New York Times

He calls his fan club the Guild Of Connoisseurs, suggesting that a fondness of his work is a mark of epicureanism rather than anything so vulgar as simple enthusiasm.

The Guardian

The pair enjoyed each other's sense of humour and had a fondness of clubbing.

Wikipedia

Even Jamie himself has talked about his strain of dance music as constructed from a fondness of the culture, as opposed to a career spent relentlessly DJing.

Vice

Chinese people have a fondness of eating peppery food with cayenne.

Clinical interventions in aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Both Pizzarellis are technical whizzes whose musicianship is infused with a sly sense of humor and a fondness for games of hide-and-seek.

The New York Times - Arts

Straightforward enough one would imagine – surely everybody has a fondness for one of the biggest British labels that has undergone something of a transformation in recent years.

Independent

But of course – a fondness for the work of Alan Ayckbourn goes hand in hand with a desire to see a mob of baying "patriots" appear at your door.

The Guardian - Opinion

In spite of a fondness for taxonomy within the literature of the profession, no universally accepted list of illusions defines the conjurer's art.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even Gene Miller, a man with a fondness for illegalities of all kinds, turned rather quickly from covering the cops to doing longer pieces.

The New Yorker

An admitted "late bloomer" to the world of mobile devices, Marc seems to have his habit under control, with the exception of a fondness for playing the Blackberry version of Katamari Damacy.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a fondness for" instead of "a fondness of" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example: "She has a fondness for old movies."

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "of" after "fondness". The correct preposition is "for". Using "of" will make your sentence grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fondness of" (though grammatically incorrect) attempts to function as a noun phrase, indicating a liking or affection. Despite its presence in various sources, the structure should be "a fondness for". Ludwig AI also emphasizes the importance of the correct preposition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a fondness of" appears in various online sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "a fondness for". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, "a fondness for" serves to express a liking or affection and can be replaced by alternatives like "a liking for" or "an affection for". Although the phrase is relatively rare and appears in news media, wikis and science resources, adhering to the correct grammar is essential for clear communication. Therefore, always remember to use the preposition "for" instead of "of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a liking for

Replaces "fondness" with a more general term for liking and uses the correct preposition.

an affection for

Substitutes "fondness" with "affection", implying a deeper sense of caring.

a preference for

Indicates a choice or inclination toward something.

a penchant for

Suggests a strong inclination or habitual liking.

a taste for

Implies an appreciation or enjoyment of something.

a soft spot for

Indicates a gentle or tender liking.

an inclination toward

Formally suggests a leaning or tendency.

a delight in

Highlights the pleasure derived from something.

an appreciation of

Emphasizes the recognition of value or merit.

a partiality to

Indicates a bias or favoritism.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a fondness of"?

The correct phrase is "a fondness for". The preposition "for" is the standard and grammatically correct choice.

How can I use "a fondness for" in a sentence?

You can use "a fondness for" to express a liking or affection. For example: "He has a fondness for classic cars."

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

Since "a fondness of" is grammatically incorrect, use "a fondness for" or alternatives like "a liking for" or "an affection for".

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

"A fondness of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct expression is "a fondness for", which means a liking or affection for something.