acquire confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire confidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to refer someone acquiring certain confidence or self-assurance. For example: Building up her resume helped her to acquire confidence in her professional abilities.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

So, through play, children acquire confidence, but also an awareness of limits and boundaries.

The Guardian

What better way to acquire confidence than through practice and repetition?

The New York Times

Spending time working in a different country has given them a chance to acquire confidence, empathy, and an appreciation of cultural diversity that will serve them both personally and professionally.

Stanford University

This is the perfect place for people who don't know much about food to come to acquire confidence.

Forbes

Due to its relative age advantage, the September-October group can better adapt to school life, obtain more attention and development opportunities, and have more means to acquire confidence, and therefore are less dependent on online games.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

After the control variable "confidence boost from game playing" is added, we see that the July-August group treats game playing more as a way to acquire confidence; in youth groups that deny receiving a confidence boost from game playing, no remarkable frequency difference is noted between the July-August group and the other two groups.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

BBC bosses seem to have suddenly acquired confidence, self-belief and a bit of fight.

Independent

Adults who have acquired confidence in numeracy and literacy are often inspired by the potential of education.

The Guardian

Being suddenly thrust into the public eye meant Tomlinson had to develop new skills, starting with acquiring confidence.

The Guardian

Hooking up your laptop to the various projectors, DVD players and other equipment in a classroom can be complicated, and acquiring confidence using potentially new programs to present films, music, images, or web-based material requires practice.

Yale University

So, at the risk of getting a little too carried away, there are clear signs – at last! – of an emboldened centre-left politics acquiring confidence, eloquence, and an animating purpose.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acquire confidence", consider specifying the area in which confidence is being gained for greater clarity. For instance, "acquire confidence in public speaking" is more informative than simply "acquire confidence".

Common error

Avoid assuming that acquiring confidence in one area automatically translates to other areas. Confidence is often domain-specific.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire confidence" functions as a verb phrase, where "acquire" acts as a transitive verb and "confidence" serves as its direct object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. This construction describes the action of gaining or obtaining confidence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquire confidence" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable verb phrase used to describe gaining belief in one's abilities. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It commonly appears in news, science and academic contexts and it expresses a deliberate and active process. When writing, remember to consider the area of expertise or context in which confidence is being gained, specify what confidence is being acquired in for greater impact. Related phrases, such as "gain self-assurance" or "develop certainty", may offer subtle differences in meaning to refine your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain self-assurance

Focuses more on the internal state of assurance rather than the act of obtaining it.

become more confident

A more direct and general way of stating an increase in confidence.

develop certainty

Implies a gradual process of building conviction, shifting the emphasis from confidence to certainty.

attain assurance

Similar to acquire, but suggests a higher degree of certainty and reliability.

grow in confidence

Suggests a natural and gradual increase in confidence over time.

cultivate poise

Highlights the deliberate and refined development of composure and self-assurance.

foster self-belief

Emphasizes the nurturing and encouragement of belief in oneself.

secure confidence

Focuses on making confidence stable and protected.

build conviction

Stresses the construction of a strong belief or opinion, not necessarily about oneself.

achieve self-esteem

Indicates reaching a state of positive self-regard, which is a broader concept than confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "acquire confidence" in a sentence?

You can use "acquire confidence" to describe the process of gaining self-assurance or belief in one's abilities. For example, "Through practice, she began to "acquire confidence" in her musical talents".

What are some alternatives to "acquire confidence"?

Some alternatives include "gain self-assurance", "develop certainty", or "build conviction", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "acquire confidence" or "gain confidence"?

Both "acquire confidence" and "gain confidence" are correct and usable. "Acquire" suggests a more deliberate effort to obtain confidence, while "gain" can imply a more passive or natural increase. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "acquire confidence" and "develop confidence"?

"Acquire confidence" suggests obtaining or coming into possession of confidence, whereas "develop confidence" implies a gradual process of growth and improvement in confidence over time.