acquire for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire for" is not technically correct and is not normally used in written English. If you are trying to express the action of obtaining something for someone, a better phrase might be "get for," as in "I'll get the tickets for you."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Oculus VR, which Facebook plans to acquire for two billion dollars, raised early funding through a Kickstarter campaign).

The New Yorker

A wild card will be Google's plans for Motorola Mobility, which Google is set to acquire for $12.5 billion.

The New York Times - Tech

The Swiss drug maker Roche Holding announced plans to acquire for $43.7 billion the stake in Genentech that it does not already own.

The New York Times

In response to the last request, Clement Moore wrote back advising him not to "aspire to acquire for yourself alone the whole glory of the universe".

The New Yorker

In carrying out their duties as leaders and protectors of Israel, they had every incentive to acquire for it the ultimate form of protection.

The New Yorker

He said the museum's budget has yet to be determined, and it is too early to say how many pieces it hopes to acquire for its collection.

The New York Times - Arts

When General Manager Allard Baird is scouting players whom he may want to sign or acquire for the Kansas City Royals, he analyzes videotapes from two, three and four years ago.

The New York Times - Sports

As part of the agreement, Interpublic will acquire for undisclosed terms a minority stake of up to 20percentt in Daiko, which has 10 other offices in Japan as well as six offices in Asia.

The New York Times

President Bush had told the American people about "high-strength aluminum tubes" that Saddam was trying to acquire for his nuclear program, and about the uranium Saddam had sought to buy in Africa.

The New York Times - Magazine

Bankers and analysts who follow Golden State, which Citigroup plans to acquire for $5.8 billion, suspect Mr. Perelman, whose net worth was estimated at $2.3 billion last year by Forbes, needed cash.

The New York Times

And, my friends -- and my friends, should our enemies acquire for their arsenal the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons they seek, this war will become a much bigger thing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "acquire for" is commonly used, especially in news and business contexts, it's often more grammatically sound and clearer to use alternatives like "obtain for" or "purchase for" depending on the specific context. This enhances the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "acquire for" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and grammatically accepted alternatives such as "procure for" or "obtain for" to maintain a professional tone and avoid potential criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of obtaining something with a specified purpose or recipient. Ludwig shows examples of its use in various contexts, primarily relating to business acquisitions and obtaining resources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

30%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acquire for" is frequently used across various domains, including news, business, and general writing, as reflected in the Ludwig examples. However, it is considered grammatically questionable, as Ludwig AI points out. While its common usage cannot be denied, especially in contexts discussing company acquisitions or resource attainment, it is often better to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "obtain for", "secure for", or "purchase for", depending on the specific context. This improves clarity and enhances the overall professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtain for

Replaces "acquire" with a more general term for getting something, maintaining the "for" to indicate purpose.

procure for

Similar to "obtain" but suggests a more deliberate or effortful acquisition.

secure for

Emphasizes the effort to ensure something is obtained for someone or something.

get for

A more informal way of saying "acquire", suitable for casual contexts.

purchase for

Specifically refers to buying something for a particular recipient or use.

attain for

Suggests achieving or reaching a certain level or object on behalf of someone or something.

find for

Implies locating or discovering something to benefit someone or something.

collect for

Suggests gathering multiple items or resources with a specific purpose in mind.

reserve for

Sets something aside, or keeps it only for a certain person or goal.

allocate to

To assign something specifically for someone or a goal; "allocate" is more fitting when the subject is abstract.

FAQs

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

While commonly used, consider alternatives like "obtain for", "purchase for", or "secure for" for better grammatical clarity. For example, instead of saying 'They plan to "acquire for" their collection', you could say 'They plan to obtain items for their collection'.

What's a more grammatically correct alternative to "acquire for"?

Alternatives include "obtain for", "secure for", or "purchase for" depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey. These options are generally considered more grammatically sound.

Which is correct, "acquire for" or "acquire something for"?

While "acquire for" is frequently used, "acquire something for" is grammatically preferable as it includes a direct object, making the sentence structure clearer and more standard. For example: acquire resources for.

In what contexts is "acquire for" most commonly used?

The phrase "acquire for" is frequently found in news reports, business articles, and general media when discussing acquisitions, purchases, or obtaining something for a specific purpose or entity. However, it is not always considered grammatically correct and might be better replaced with more precise alternatives.