approach of attack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approach of attack" is not correct in standard English usage.
It seems to be a misphrasing; the correct expression is "approach to attack." Example: "The military's approach to attack was carefully planned to minimize casualties."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

David Axelrod, the chief strategist for Mr. Obama, said the Clinton campaign had pursued the approach of "attack, attack, attack".

The New York Times

While 'spinning' the latest primary results for the press, for example, chief Obama strategist David Axelrod first noted the Clinton approach of "attack, attack, attack" and then promised to respond soon in kind.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Continuing with the old-fashioned approach of attacking bacteria is running out of steam.

The Guardian

The "inside-out" approach of attacking centers of power first aims to capitalize on the American military's ability to strike at long distances and to maneuver forces rapidly to neutralize a large target.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Mann's co-author on a pair of books about congressional dysfunction, Norman Ornstein of the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said Republicans' approach of attacking government grew even worse over the past eight years.

Huffington Post

Though his basic approach of attacking the source rather than the symptoms of unhappiness seems sound, he is often prone to making substance-agnostic such comments as "I want to provoke people back into the reality of this moment" and "Everybody needs something to move toward — if you don't have something to move toward you settle for where you are".

Los Angeles Times

The approach of attacking mitochondria is further supported by the fact that cancer cells' mitochondrial membrane potential tends to be more polarised than that of normal cells (Chen, 1988).

British Journal of Cancer

Unless Hamas is removed, the other two approaches of attack will likely look toward repeated similar confrontations between Israel and Hamas in the years ahead.

Huffington Post

There are many kinds of approaches to attacking these kinds of combinatorial optimisation problems, and I give two examples.

Archives of Toxicology

In the following sections, acute management approaches for attacks of histamine-mediated angioedema, ACEI-induced angioedema, and HAE, along with drug therapies for HAE, will be addressed.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

And over the last few decades, we have begun to appreciate that plants can warn each other of approaching insect attacks using an extensive vocabulary of chemical molecules, such as herbivore-induced volatile organic compounds.

Behavioral Ecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a strategy or method for initiating an offensive, use the phrase "approach to attacking" or "method of attack" instead of "approach of attack".

Common error

Avoid using "of" when "to" is grammatically correct. "Approach to" indicates direction or relation, while "of" often implies possession or origin, which doesn't fit the intended meaning in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approach of attack" functions as a noun phrase, but its grammatical correctness is questionable. Ludwig AI confirms that a more standard form is "approach to attack". It seeks to describe a method or way to initiate an offensive action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "approach of attack" might appear in various sources, it is not considered grammatically correct. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct phrasing is "approach to attack" or alternatives like "method of attack" or "strategy for attack". The phrase's usage is rare, primarily found in news and scientific contexts. It's crucial to use the correct preposition, "to", to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity when describing methods or strategies related to attacks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

method of attack

Replaces 'approach' with 'method', focusing on the specific techniques used in an offensive action.

strategy for attack

Substitutes 'approach' with 'strategy', highlighting the overall plan rather than the specific steps.

tactics of attack

Replaces 'approach' with 'tactics', emphasizing specific maneuvers and actions employed.

means of attack

Emphasizes the resources or tools utilized in carrying out the offensive action.

avenue of attack

Highlights a particular route or direction from which an offensive action is launched.

system of attack

Replaces 'approach' to indicate a structured and coordinated way to launch an offensive action.

process of attacking

Focuses on the sequence of steps involved in initiating an offensive action.

manner of attacking

Highlights the style or way in which an offensive action is carried out.

procedure for attacking

Emphasizes the specific steps and guidelines followed during an offensive action.

way of attacking

A more general alternative to the original phrase, simply referring to a particular manner of initiating an offensive action.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "approach of attack"?

The grammatically correct way to phrase this is "approach to attack". The preposition "to" correctly indicates the relationship between the strategy and the action.

What can I say instead of "approach of attack"?

Alternatives include "method of attack", "strategy for attack", or "tactics of attack", depending on the specific context you're describing.

Is "approach of attack" grammatically correct?

No, "approach of attack" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "approach to attack". Using "to" properly connects the method or strategy with the action being taken.

What's the difference between "approach of attack" and "approach to attack"?

While "approach of attack" is technically incorrect, "approach to attack" is the correct phrasing. The preposition "to" indicates the direction or relationship towards the act of attacking, clarifying the intended meaning.