a wish for action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wish for action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a desire or intention for someone to take action or to initiate a specific behavior. Example: "In her speech, she expressed a wish for action to address climate change and urged everyone to participate in the upcoming initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was not only a wish for action that made some women adopt male clothing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

HOs voice a wish for autonomous action ("individual responsibility") but with professional support ("responsible and autonomous work", "responsibility corresponding to the level of training, responsibility without being left alone").

BMC Medical Education

Almost half of the parents are generally willing to pay for preventive measures and this willingness to pay may even mirror the parental wish for action on behalf of the society or government.

Health Economics Review

As to mechanisms for launching and developing collaboration at the primary service delivery levels, THPs favoured concrete and collaborative actions from the start, especially bidirectional referrals, indicating a wish for practical (rather than rhetorical) recognition.

Human Resources for Health

Waking to a new power configuration in Washington yesterday, business leaders began to revise their wish lists for action on contentious issues like taxes, health care costs, personal-injury lawsuits and the ability of government employees to strike.

The New York Times

Other attendees presented the new Liberal government, led by the hip Justin Trudeau, with wish lists for action.

Science Magazine

There will be those, genuinely unhappy, who wish for tougher action on migration and a handbrake turn away from Europe.

The Guardian

For its part, Wrigley has chosen to make only a subdued statement about its product, saying the company is deeply saddened, respects the family's privacy and feels "it inappropriate to get involved or comment further as we would never wish for our actions to be perceived as an attempt of commercial gain following this tragedy".

The New York Times

She feels a need for action.

The New Yorker

A call for action is required.

The New York Times

Well this is a time for action".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a wish for action" when you want to convey a desire for practical steps or measures to be taken in response to a specific situation or problem.

Common error

Avoid using "a wish for action" to describe an action that has already been taken. This phrase expresses a desire or anticipation, not a completed event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wish for action" functions as a noun phrase expressing a desire or aspiration for something to be done. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a wish for action" conveys a desire or hope that something be done to address a particular situation. While grammatically correct and understandable, as validated by Ludwig AI, it's important to consider context when employing it. The phrase is relatively rare, with limited instances found in encyclopedias, scientific literature, and news reports. Related phrases like "a desire for action" or "a need for action" might offer more common or impactful alternatives depending on the message you want to convey. Remember to use it to express an unrealized desire, not a completed event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A yearning for action

Replaces "wish" with "yearning", emphasizing a strong desire.

A desire for action

Substitutes "wish" with "desire", a more common synonym.

A craving for action

Replaces "wish" with "craving", suggesting an intense need.

A need for action

Shifts from a wish to a necessity, highlighting the importance of action.

A demand for action

Indicates a strong request or requirement for action.

An urge to act

Focuses on the internal feeling that drives one to act.

A push for action

Emphasizes the effort to initiate action.

An impetus to act

Highlights the motivating force behind the action.

A call to arms

Implies an urgent need to mobilize and take action, often in response to a challenge.

A vote for action

Expresses support for concrete steps or measures to be taken.

FAQs

How can I use "a wish for action" in a sentence?

You can use "a wish for action" to express a desire for something to be done. For example, "The community expressed "a wish for action" regarding the increasing crime rates."

What are some alternatives to "a wish for action"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "a desire for action", "a need for action", or "a call to action", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "wish for action" grammatically correct?

Yes, "wish for action" is grammatically correct. The structure "wish for" is commonly used to express a desire for something.

What's the difference between "a wish for action" and "a plan for action"?

"A wish for action" expresses a desire that something should be done, whereas "a plan for action" outlines specific steps to achieve a goal. The former is a desire, the latter is a strategy.