a growing fondness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a growing fondness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an increasing affection or liking for someone or something over time. Example: "As they spent more time together, she noticed a growing fondness for his quirky sense of humor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Yet a growing fondness for anonymous shopping (see also supermarket checkout bots) is giving new life to old tech.

Independent

The vacuum was filled with a growing fondness for the local-ish team of my boyhood, Queen of the South.

The Guardian - Opinion

The hallmarks of Beethoven's final period — a growing fondness for departed masters, notably Bach and Handel; a taste for polyphony and counterpoint; a cultivation of free-spirited, sometimes naïvely folkish lyricism — appear as signs not of progressivism but of retrenchment.

The New Yorker

What is really going on here, one might suspect, is not a sudden attack of fondness for the empire, but a growing fondness for trams, after they were phased out by most former colonial cities.

The Guardian

His return to Kentucky was also motivated by a growing fondness for his cousin, Virginia Hart Shelby, who had cared for two of his children during his stay in Pennsylvania.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The second is his growing fondness for a young well-born midwife known as Miss Aibagawa.

The New York Times - Books

Much of the story takes place in the protagonists' minds, with the author skillfully weaving Chee's growing fondness for a female colleague and Leaphorn's ruminations about remarrying after the death of his beloved wife into the narrative so that it all flows smoothly together.

Forbes

But she fails to reflect on whether Apple's growing fondness for litigation is a sign that it is now more obsessed with protecting existing innovations rather than coming up with new ones.Then there is the issue of comparisons with the Jobs era.

The Economist

Meanwhile, the swashbuckler exited Hollywood stage left, a victim of prevailing reluctance to make costly historical extravaganzas and growing fondness for more realistic fodder.

The Guardian - Film

But the combination of bad racing luck and Elliott's growing fondness for beer kept him in racing's hinterlands.

The New York Times

Despite Wall Street's growing fondness for medical robotics companies, plenty of health care providers and insurers are cautious.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a growing fondness" to describe a gradual increase in affection or liking for someone or something. It's suitable for portraying a developing positive sentiment over time.

Common error

While "a growing fondness" is acceptable, overuse can sound repetitive. Vary your language with alternatives like "increasing affection" or "developing appreciation" for a more nuanced and engaging tone, particularly in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a growing fondness" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate it describing an increasing affection or liking. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a growing fondness" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a gradual increase in affection or liking. As Ludwig examples show, it often appears in news and media contexts. Though Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's a relatively rare expression. Consider using synonyms like "increasing affection" in more formal settings. Remember, context matters when choosing the most appropriate way to express developing positive sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing affection

A more direct synonym, emphasizing the increase in affection.

a rising fondness

Uses "rising" instead of "growing", which is a similar concept.

increasing affection

Focuses on the emotional aspect of affection rather than the development of fondness.

developing liking

Uses the more general term 'liking' instead of 'fondness'.

strengthening affection

Highlights the increase in the strength of affection.

developing attachment

Implies a stronger emotional bond is forming.

emerging affection

Highlights the gradual appearance of affection.

budding affection

Emphasizes the early stages of affection development.

burgeoning affection

Emphasizes the rapid growth and development of affection.

increasing appreciation

Suggests valuing something more over time.

FAQs

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

You can use "a growing fondness" to describe a gradual increase in affection or liking. For example: "She noticed "a growing fondness" for the stray cat she had been feeding".

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

You can use alternatives like "increasing affection", "developing liking", or "increasing appreciation" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a growing fondness" in formal writing?

Yes, but use it sparingly. While grammatically correct, alternatives like "increasing respect" or "developing admiration" might be more suitable for certain formal contexts.

What's the difference between "a growing fondness" and "a sudden fondness"?

"A growing fondness" implies a gradual increase in affection, while "a sudden fondness" suggests an immediate or unexpected liking. The former develops over time; the latter appears quickly.