asking for charity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "asking for charity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of requesting donations or support for a charitable cause. Example: "The organization is dedicated to asking for charity to help those in need during the holiday season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"Asking for charity?" "Begging," he said.

The New Yorker

"I am not here asking for charity!

The New Yorker

We are not just sitting back and complaining or asking for charity.

University of California, Berkeley

"There's something about feeling that you are asking for charity rather than getting something from the state … it's humiliating; it involves swallowing your dignity, travelling distances to the centres and walking home with plastic bags," she says.

The Guardian

"There's something about feeling that you are asking for charity rather than getting something from the state … it's humiliating; it involves swallowing your dignity, travelling distances to the centres and walking home with plastic bags," she says.

The Guardian

The families lining up at PATH, and the single adult men at their intake point, in the Bellevue Men's Shelter, on East Thirtieth Street, and the single adult women at the women's intake at the help women's shelter, on Williams Avenue, in Brooklyn: from a legal standpoint, these people are not asking for charity.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The family could have asked for charity, but they were too proud.

The New York Times

When he asks for charity, the sisters order him out, but Cenerentola secretly gives him coffee and bread.

The Guardian - Music

How am I going to pay that?" Reluctantly, Smith has had to ask for charity help to get by and has had food parcels from a local food bank.

The Guardian

Ripples From Trade Center While many New York jobs like Mrs. Fong-Sam's have been cut or lost as an indirect result of the attack on the World Trade Center, many of those who worked in the twin towers have themselves asked for charity for the first time in their lives.

The New York Times

Remember, we do not ask for charity.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "asking for charity", clearly define the cause and the impact of donations to encourage potential donors.

Common error

Don't use overly general terms when "asking for charity". Specify where the funds will be allocated to show donors you are trustworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "asking for charity" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the action of seeking donations for a charitable cause, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "asking for charity" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English that functions as a gerund phrase. Ludwig AI indicates the expression is correct. While not extremely common, it appears regularly in diverse contexts ranging from news and media to formal business communications and academia. When using this phrase, it's essential to be clear about the cause and the impact of donations. Alternative phrases like "requesting donations" or "soliciting donations for charity" can offer a more formal or specific tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requesting charitable donations

Replaces 'asking' with 'requesting' and expands 'charity' to 'charitable donations' for more specificity.

soliciting donations for charity

Uses 'soliciting' to emphasize a more active seeking of donations and maintains the focus on charity.

seeking charitable contributions

Replaces "asking" with "seeking" and "charity" with "charitable contributions", offering a more formal tone.

appealing for charitable aid

Employs 'appealing' to convey a sense of urgency or need, shifting the focus to 'charitable aid'.

raising funds for charitable causes

Shifts the focus to the act of 'raising funds' specifically for 'charitable causes'.

seeking financial support for charity

Specifically mentions 'financial support' to clarify the type of assistance being requested for a charity.

launching a charity appeal

Focuses on the action of 'launching an appeal', implying a broader campaign for charity.

applying for charitable assistance

Replaces "asking" with "applying" indicating a more formal process of requesting assistance.

canvassing for charitable gifts

Uses 'canvassing' to suggest a direct, person-to-person approach to obtaining 'charitable gifts'.

petitioning for charitable grants

Employs 'petitioning' to imply a formal request for 'charitable grants', typically from institutions.

FAQs

How can I use "asking for charity" in a sentence?

You can use "asking for charity" to describe the act of requesting donations for a cause. For example, "The organization is dedicated to asking for charity to help those in need."

What are some alternatives to "asking for charity"?

You can use alternatives like "requesting donations", "seeking contributions", or "appealing for aid depending on the context".

Is it better to say "asking for charity" or "requesting donations"?

Both "asking for charity" and "requesting donations" are correct, but "requesting donations" may sound more formal and professional.

What's the difference between "asking for charity" and "begging for charity"?

"Asking for charity" is a general term for requesting donations. "Begging for charity" implies a more desperate or urgent need for assistance. The former is more neutral, while the latter has stronger connotations.