a side interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a side interest" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an activity or hobby that someone is interested in, but not as their primary focus or primary interest. For example, "Tim has a side interest in photography, but he doesn't take it seriously."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

This is a side interest that I developed out of necessity.

The New York Times

Mr. Coyne, as usual, played the ringleader, with a side interest in distressed folk song.

The New York Times - Arts

He became a developer as a side interest to his medical career.

The Guardian

He developed a side interest in lying partly because his research agenda made him think about impulse control, and partly because his patients often lied to him.

The New Yorker

His wife was divorcing him, the security business he ran as a side interest had fallen into bankruptcy, and he had lost his home.

The Guardian

Carine Tontini, right, who has a Ph.D. in sociology and anthropology from the Sorbonne, turned a side interest of hers, ceramics, into a career.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Even then, she thought of her work as a way to connect to a longtime side interest in space.

The New Yorker

"I've always had a strong environmental streak, and so environmental policy was a natural side interest for me," she says.

Science Magazine

But the standout soloist was Mr. Turre, who allowed himself some hard, braying accents on trombone before he switched to conch shells — a signature side interest — for the remainder of the tune.

The New York Times - Arts

In the early 1960s Lake decided to pursue a long-held side interest in premium wine and bought a tiny (25-ha [62-ac]) block of land in the Hunter Valley, where settlers had first planted wine grapes some 100 years earlier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And it became kind of a passion and side interest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a side interest" to add depth to a description of someone's personality or skills, showcasing their diverse range of activities.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the importance of "a side interest". It should genuinely be secondary and not overshadow the main focus or profession.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a side interest" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes an activity or area of focus that is secondary to a person's main occupation or passion, as illustrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a side interest" is a noun phrase denoting a secondary activity or hobby. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various sources, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, clarity is key: ensure that the primary focus is well-defined to provide context. Consider using alternatives like "a secondary pursuit" or "a minor hobby" for nuanced variations. Avoid exaggerating the significance of the "a side interest", keeping it appropriately proportional to the main focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a secondary pursuit

Focuses on the activity being secondary, emphasizing the active engagement aspect.

a supplementary focus

Focuses on the secondary nature of the focus, highlighting attention distribution.

a minor hobby

Highlights the recreational and less serious nature of the interest.

an additional hobby

Highlights that this hobby is considered additional to another.

a supplementary activity

Emphasizes the additional and supportive nature of the activity.

an ancillary pastime

Uses more formal language to denote a secondary recreational activity.

a marginal activity

Emphasizes the importance or relevance of the activity is not very large.

a peripheral involvement

Indicates a less central or core engagement in something.

a non-core activity

Highlights that the core skills are not used.

a diversionary activity

Implies that this activity is used to distract from other things.

FAQs

How can I use "a side interest" in a sentence?

You can use "a side interest" to describe a hobby or activity that is not someone's main job or focus. For example, "He works as an engineer, but he has "a side interest" in photography".

What is another way to say "a side interest"?

Alternatives to "a side interest" include "a secondary pursuit", "a minor hobby", or "an ancillary pastime".

Is it okay to have multiple "side interests"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to have multiple "side interests". It simply means you have several hobbies or activities that you enjoy in addition to your primary focus.

How does "a side interest" differ from a hobby?

While "a side interest" and a hobby are similar, "a side interest" implies that the activity is secondary to something else, like a career or primary focus. A hobby might be a more significant part of one's life without necessarily being a primary occupation.