a sought for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sought for" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "sought-after" when describing something that is in demand or desired. Example: "The sought-after position attracted many qualified candidates."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In June 2007, Mrs A sought treatment for an abscess with cellulitis on the left thigh.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Kierkegaard explains: "In observing children, one will discover this anxiety intimated more particularly as a seeking for the adventurous, the monstrous, and the enigmatic".

The New York Times

A restaurant is being sought for a 9,900-square-foot 9,900-square-foot 9,900-square-foot

The New York Times

A researcher is being sought for a PhD on chocolate by the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.

BBC

According to ESPN, Henry is undergoing chemotherapy while a match is being sought for a bone marrow transplant.

Los Angeles Times

When a specific indication is sought for a drug, the licensing authorities base their considerations on three primary factors.

Clinical interventions in aging

Modelling wasn't a profession she sought for herself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A summons was sought for Swan to attend the inquest but he stayed in Western Australia.

The Guardian

A procedure was sought for estimating fatigue loading information from roughness characteristics of fracture surfaces.

International Journal of Fatigue

"It includes provisions we have sought for a decade now," said Jeff Eshelman, a spokesman for the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

The New York Times

Tilda Swinton is also being sought for a role.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "a sought for", use the adjective "sought-after" to describe something that is desired or in demand. For example, "a sought-after professional".

Common error

Avoid using "a sought for" as an adjective; it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "sought-after" or rephrase your sentence to use a more appropriate construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sought for" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a standard English construction. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form to describe something desired is "sought-after."

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a sought for" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As noted by Ludwig AI, the proper term to use when something is desired is "sought-after". There are no instances of correct usage and because of this, it's best to replace "a sought for" with alternatives like "sought-after", "in demand", or "much desired" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought-after

Adjective describing something highly desired; grammatically correct.

in demand

Describes something currently popular or required.

much desired

Emphasizes the level of desire for something.

highly valued

Highlights the importance or worth of something.

looked for

Describes something that is actively being searched.

being sought

Indicates the passive process of searching for something.

actively pursued

Emphasizes the effort put into obtaining something.

in search of

Describes the act of seeking something.

hunted down

Implies a determined search, often for something rare.

desired item

A noun phrase referring to something desired

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "sought" in a sentence?

The word "sought" is the past tense and past participle of "seek". It's often used in phrases like "sought-after" or "being sought". For example, "The truth was sought after".

What can I use instead of the incorrect phrase "a sought for"?

Instead of "a sought for", you can use the adjective "sought-after", which means highly desired or in demand. For example: "a sought-after expert".

Is it correct to say "a solution sought for"?

While grammatically understandable, it's better to phrase it as "a solution being sought" or "a sought-after solution" for clarity and correctness.

What is the difference between "sought" and "searched"?

"Sought" implies a more profound or abstract search, often for something intangible like knowledge or justice. "Searched" generally refers to a more direct, physical examination, like when you are looking for your car keys. For example: "They sought justice", but "They searched the house".