an initial dislike to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an initial dislike to" is not correct in standard English.
The correct preposition should be "of" instead of "to." Example: "She had an initial dislike of the new policy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

After he inadvertently insults her, Liz takes an initial dislike to Jack.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I took an instant dislike to him.

The New York Times

It took an instant dislike to me, squirting ink.

The Guardian

During this period Liszt took an active dislike to the career of a virtuoso.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Serena's cousin, Sky, took an instant dislike to Lana.

Wikipedia

Melies seems to take an instant dislike to Hugo.

Huffington Post

Partly to flee a British press that had taken a fierce dislike to Yoko.

The New York Times

The writer takes a dislike to a rural philosopher and handyman, Zeph Leggin.

The New Yorker

I took an instant, irrational dislike to him.

The New Yorker

Orwell took a particular dislike to Gandhi.

The New Yorker

Henry Sheehan argued, "The complaints over Jurassic Parks lack of story and character sound a little off the point," pointing out the story arc of Grant learning to protect Hammond's grandchildren despite his initial dislike of them.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "of" instead of "to" after "dislike" when expressing the object of dislike, as in "an initial dislike of." Alternatively, consider using synonyms like "aversion" or "antipathy" which use different prepositions, such as "aversion to".

Common error

Avoid using "to" after "dislike" when indicating the object of the emotion. The correct preposition is "of". For example, say "an initial dislike of the policy" instead of "an initial dislike to the policy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an initial dislike to" attempts to function as a noun phrase expressing a feeling of aversion. However, due to the incorrect preposition, it deviates from standard English grammar. As Ludwig AI indicates, "an initial dislike of" is the correct form.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while instances of the phrase "an initial dislike to" can be found, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "an initial dislike of". As Ludwig AI points out, using the correct preposition is crucial for standard English. Alternative expressions like "an immediate dislike of" or "an instant aversion to" are also viable options. Pay close attention to preposition usage to avoid grammatical errors and maintain clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an immediate dislike of

Replaces "initial" with "immediate" to emphasize the suddenness of the dislike and uses the correct preposition "of".

an instant aversion to

Substitutes "dislike" with "aversion" to indicate a strong feeling of repulsion and uses the correct preposition "to".

a preliminary aversion to

Replaces "initial dislike" with "preliminary aversion" for a more formal tone and correct preposition usage.

a first impression of dislike

Rephrases to focus on the "first impression" aspect of dislike, clarifying the meaning and using correct grammar.

an initial negative reaction to

Generalizes "dislike" to "negative reaction" to encompass a broader range of unfavorable responses and correct preposition usage.

a strong antipathy toward

Uses "antipathy" to denote a deep-seated feeling of aversion or dislike and correct preposition usage.

an instinctive distaste for

Emphasizes the intuitive nature of the dislike using "instinctive" and "distaste" and correct preposition usage.

a nascent animosity toward

Replaces "dislike" with "animosity" to imply underlying hostility.

a budding resentment toward

Implies the dislike is gradually developing into resentment.

an early prejudice against

Suggests the dislike is based on preconceived notions or biases.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "an initial dislike"?

The grammatically correct way to express "an initial dislike" is to follow it with the preposition "of", as in "an initial dislike of the proposal". Using "to" is incorrect.

What can I say instead of "an initial dislike to"?

Instead of "an initial dislike to", you can use phrases like "an immediate dislike of", "an instant aversion to", or "a preliminary aversion to".

Which is correct, "an initial dislike to" or "an initial dislike of"?

"An initial dislike of" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "An initial dislike to" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "an initial dislike of" and "a first impression of dislike"?

"An initial dislike of" focuses on the feeling of dislike itself, while "a first impression of dislike" emphasizes that the dislike is based on a first encounter or limited information. They are similar but have subtle differences in emphasis.