ask for loan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ask for loan" is not correct in English; it should be "ask for a loan." You can use it when requesting financial assistance or borrowing money from a bank or individual.
Example: "I need to ask for a loan to cover the cost of my new car."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Department also can avoid what it has sometimes done in the past: trying to change the subject when students ask for loan discharges because their school has closed or engaged in fraud.

Huffington Post

Ask for loan quotes based on zero points as well as one or two points.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Many firms are afraid that if they ask for loans their overdraft will be tuned into a new loan at extra cost.

The Guardian - Opinion

Aside from legal entanglements, assistance from the department could lead a bevy of state and local governments, also suffering financially, to ask for loans, too.

The New York Times

To stay on top of overheads, she relies on going to her bank to increase costly overdrafts or ask for loans.

The Guardian - Business

These cooperatives do not sell shares or ask for loans as they become member of the cooperative.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Now households are saving, which causes businesses not to ask for loans.

Huffington Post

It would only throw good money after bad money as Greece would continue to ask for loans, maybe even feel it had the right to do so.

Huffington Post

Ask for loans and donations.

WikiHow

Detroit would be producing vehicles more in tune with current customer needs, rather than asking for loan guarantees.

The New York Times

Some businesses say they do not even bother asking for loans anymore.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific instance, use the article 'a' before "loan". For instance, "ask for a loan" is grammatically preferred over "ask for loan".

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" before "loan" when referring to a single, unspecified loan. Saying "ask for loan" is grammatically incorrect; instead, say "ask for a loan".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is primarily used as a verb phrase indicating an action; however, it is grammatically incorrect in its current form. According to Ludwig AI, the grammatically correct phrasing is "ask for a loan", which includes the article 'a'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ask for loan" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct phrasing is "ask for a loan", which includes the article 'a'. Although "ask for loan" appears in various sources like news articles and wikis, its grammatical incorrectness suggests using alternatives such as "request a loan" or "apply for a loan" for clarity and correctness. When requesting financial help for any reason, keep in mind to properly use the article 'a'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request a loan

Formal alternative, emphasizing the act of making an official request.

apply for a loan

Focuses on the process of submitting an application for loan approval.

seek a loan

Highlights the active search or pursuit of obtaining a loan.

enquire about a loan

Suggests an initial inquiry to gather information about loan options.

pursue loan options

Emphasizes exploring different possibilities for securing a loan.

solicit a loan

Suggests requesting something from multiple entities, not from one

access funding

Broader term that could include loans, but also grants or investments.

obtain financing

General term for acquiring financial resources, not exclusive to loans.

get credit

Focuses on obtaining credit, which can be in the form of a loan or other credit facilities.

borrow money

Simple and direct way of expressing the act of receiving funds with the intention to repay.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "ask for loan"?

No, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "ask for a loan".

What's the difference between "ask for loan" and "ask for a loan"?

The phrase "ask for loan" is missing the article 'a', making it grammatically incorrect. "Ask for a loan" is the proper way to phrase the request.

What can I say instead of "ask for loan"?

The correct alternatives are "ask for a loan", "request a loan", or "apply for a loan".

How do I properly use the phrase "ask for a loan" in a sentence?

Use "ask for a loan" when you need to request funds with the intention of repaying them. Example: "I need to ask for a loan to start my business."