an affection for

USAGE SUMMARY

"an affection for" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a fondness or liking for someone or something. Example: She has an affection for classic literature. Alternative expressions include "a fondness for," "a love for," and "an appreciation for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

They also share an affection for marijuana.

The New York Times - Magazine

He shows an affection for British ways.

The New Yorker

I had an affection for him..

The Guardian - Arts

Cuomo has long had an affection for baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

He still has an affection for the club".

Independent

She harbors an affection for black-and-white movies.

The New York Times

Well, I never didn't have an affection for them.

The New York Times - Magazine

I have such an affection for it because it's given me my whole career.

Independent

By contrast, urban America is developing quite an affection for the animal.

The Economist

Flame also shares a quirkier trait with Duqu: an affection for American movie characters.

The New York Times - Tech

Bonham points out that Tasmania has an affection for electing independents to the Senate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with adjectives like 'deep', 'lingering', 'grudging' or 'genuine' to specify the nuance of the feeling being described.

Common error

Ensure you do not use 'affectation' when you mean "an affection for". While they sound similar, an affectation refers to an artificial or pretentious behavior intended to impress, whereas affection describes genuine warmth.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "an affection for" serves as a complex noun phrase where 'affection' is the head noun, modified by the indefinite article 'an' and followed by a prepositional phrase starting with 'for'. In the sentences provided by Ludwig, it typically functions as the object of verbs like 'have', 'harbor', 'develop' or 'show'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Arts & Culture

10%

Biography & Memoirs

5%

Less common in

Scientific Research

2%

Technical Manuals

1%

Legal Documents

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an affection for" is a versatile and emotionally resonant tool in English writing. Based on data from Ludwig, it is exceptionally common in high-quality journalism, where it is used to describe everything from a politician's hobby to a writer's love for a specific city. Unlike more clinical terms like 'preference' or more intense terms like 'obsession', "an affection for" conveys a sense of genuine, human warmth. It is grammatically robust and pairs well with verbs of possession and development. Writers should feel confident using it to add emotional depth to their descriptions without sounding overly sentimental or informal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fondness for

Suggests a warm and long-standing liking, often more personal or intimate than the main query.

an affinity for

Implies a natural or spontaneous liking for something, often suggesting a deep-seated connection.

a penchant for

Focuses on a strong or habitual liking for something, often implying a specific tendency or habit.

a soft spot for

A more idiomatic and informal way to express a sentimental weakness or particular liking for someone or something.

a liking for

A more basic and direct version that is suitable for all registers but lacks the emotional warmth of affection.

an appreciation for

Indicates recognition of value or quality, which is more intellectual and less purely emotional.

a predilection for

A significantly more formal choice that suggests a preference or bias toward something.

a partiality to

Suggests favoring one thing over others, often used regarding tastes or specific choices.

an attachment to

Emphasizes the emotional bond or connection felt toward the object of affection.

a devotion to

Represents a much stronger level of commitment and intense loyalty compared to simple affection.

FAQs

How to use "an affection for" in a sentence?

You can use it as a direct object phrase to show liking, such as: "He has always harbored "an affection for" the mountains."

What can I say instead of "an affection for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/a+fondness+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a fondness for", "<a href="/s/an+affinity+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an affinity for" or "<a href="/s/a+soft+spot+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a soft spot for".

What is the difference between "an affection for" and "an affinity for"?

"an affection for" usually refers to an emotional warmth or sentimental feeling, while "<a href="/s/an+affinity+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an affinity for" suggests a natural understanding or inherent compatibility with something.

Is "an affection for" formal or informal?

It is a neutral phrase that fits comfortably in both professional journalism and casual storytelling. It is considered slightly more refined than simply saying 'liking'.