acquire of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire of" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a mistaken combination of words, as "acquire" typically does not pair with "of." Example: "I need to acquire the necessary skills for this job."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The program also acquired a moral facade, which every major Indian science project is forced to acquire, of helping the poor.

The New York Times

CHRIS V. NICHOLSON ON VIDEO SABMiller's effort to acquire of the Australian beer giant Foster's values the company at about $10 billion.

The New York Times

We now begin the theoretical study with acquire of the variational form of Eq. (1), and with using of the system (9), we can obtain approximate solution.

Mathematical Sciences

It's been about four months since Amazon announced its plans to acquire of Quidsi, the parent company of Diapers.com and Soap.com, for $540 million.

TechCrunch

The firm announced today it has spent HK$22.4 billion (around US$2.88 billion) to acquire of 36.16 percent in Sun Art Retail Group, a Hong Kong-listed business that operates 446 hypermarkets across 224 cities in mainland China.

TechCrunch

This was particularly obvious when Stoughton and Dudley were part of a venture to acquire of land in the Merrimack River valley.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Acquired OF Dave Roberts from Los Angeles for OF Henri Stanley.

The New York Times - Sports

Acquired OF Felix Pagan from Duluth-Superior for OF David Tidwell.

The New York Times - Sports

SEATTLE MARINERS--Acquired OF Kenny Kelly from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash.

The New York Times - Sports

It was all acquired, of course, at a horrific price.

The New Yorker

Acquired OF John Vander Wal from the San Francisco Giants for RHP Jay Witasick.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey the action of gaining or obtaining something, use "acquire" followed by a direct object. For example, prefer "acquire knowledge" over the ungrammatical "acquire of knowledge".

Common error

Avoid adding the preposition "of" after the verb "acquire". This is a common error. The verb "acquire" directly takes a noun phrase as its object. For example, write "acquire skills" instead of "acquire of skills".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire of" is grammatically incorrect. The verb acquire is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, it expresses the action of gaining possession or control of something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is not usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "acquire of" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The verb "acquire" requires a direct object, expressing the action of gaining possession or control of something. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not considered usable in written English. While the intent is often to convey gaining something, the improper grammar undermines the message. Instead, use "acquire" followed by the object you are acquiring, or consider alternatives like "obtain", "gain", or other suitable synonyms depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquire

Removes the preposition "of", correcting the grammatical error.

acquire something

Corrects the grammar by adding a direct object to the verb "acquire".

obtain

Replaces "acquire" with a synonym that directly implies gaining possession.

gain possession of

Emphasizes the act of taking control or ownership.

come into possession of

Highlights the process by which someone obtains something, often implying inheritance or unexpected acquisition.

secure

Suggests a deliberate effort to obtain something, often against competition or difficulty.

attain

Implies achieving something after a period of effort or striving.

procure

Suggests obtaining something, often through careful planning or effort, and sometimes implying official channels.

get hold of

Indicates obtaining something, often with a sense of urgency or difficulty.

take ownership of

Focuses on the act of assuming responsibility and control over something.

FAQs

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

The verb "acquire" should be followed by a direct object. For example, "She wants to acquire new skills" is correct, while "acquire of new skills" is not.

Is "acquire of" ever grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "acquire of" is not grammatically correct in standard English. "Acquire" should be followed directly by the object being acquired.

What are some alternatives to "acquire"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "obtain", "gain", "secure", or "attain".

How can I avoid making mistakes when using the word "acquire"?

Remember that "acquire" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. Always follow "acquire" with what is being acquired, such as "acquire knowledge" or "acquire property", and avoid adding unnecessary prepositions like "of".