asked for help

USAGE SUMMARY

"asked for help" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to describe someone requesting help from another person. Example sentence: The troubled student asked for help from her teacher.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We asked for help.

The New York Times

She asked for help.

The New York Times

The Italian government asked for help.

The Economist

But they asked for help.

The New York Times - Science

I never asked for help.

The Guardian

I phoned Netcare and asked for help.

The Guardian

Priests asked for help with food banks.

The Washington Post

"We asked for help over and over," she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Everybody was asking for help.

Independent

Was he asking for help?

The New York Times

Do you ask for help?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a situation where someone needed assistance, consider using stronger verbs than "asked" to convey the urgency or desperation of the request, such as "pleaded", "begged", or "implored".

Common error

Avoid using "asked for help" in a way that minimizes the agency of the person seeking assistance. Instead of saying "Help was asked for", emphasize who specifically requested the help by saying "They asked for help".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asked for help" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as the predicate of a clause. It describes the action of requesting assistance or support from someone. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts where a need for assistance is communicated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "asked for help" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the act of requesting assistance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from formal to informal. The phrase appears frequently in news media, academia, and formal business communications. When using "asked for help", writers should consider the specific context and whether a more descriptive verb, like "pleaded" or "implored", might better convey the urgency of the request. It's also important to focus the writing on who made the request. Related phrases include "requested assistance" and "sought support". Overall, this phrase is a versatile and widely accepted way to describe seeking assistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requested assistance

Replaces "asked" with the more formal "requested" and "help" with "assistance", making it sound more professional.

called for assistance

Indicates a public or formal request for help.

sought support

Emphasizes the act of seeking backing or aid, rather than a direct request.

reached out for assistance

Emphasizes the action of extending oneself to seek help, often used in a context of overcoming barriers.

appealed for aid

Implies a more urgent or desperate need for assistance.

solicited help

Formally requests or entreats for help.

enlisted support

Suggests actively recruiting or engaging others to provide help.

inquired for aid

Suggests a polite or formal request for help.

looked for a helping hand

Uses a more figurative expression to describe seeking assistance.

begged for assistance

Implies a desperate request for help, often in a dire situation.

FAQs

How can I use "asked for help" in a sentence?

You can use "asked for help" to describe someone seeking assistance. For example: "The student "asked for help" with their homework" or "The organization "asked for help" from volunteers".

What are some alternatives to "asked for help"?

Some alternatives include "requested assistance", "sought support", or "appealed for aid", depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it better to say "asked for help" or "requested help"?

Both "asked for help" and "requested help" are correct, but "requested help" is slightly more formal. The best choice depends on the context and audience. In most everyday situations, "asked for help" is perfectly acceptable.

What's the difference between "asked for help" and "offered help"?

"Asked for help" indicates someone is seeking assistance, while "offered help" means someone is providing assistance. They are opposite actions; one seeks support, and the other provides it.