attach oneself to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attach oneself to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of forming a connection or association with someone or something. Example: "In times of uncertainty, many people tend to attach themselves to familiar routines for comfort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For employees this means a shift toward looking for projects and products to attach oneself to, not long-term careers at one company.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The empowerment that people seek appears to reside more in the process of attaching oneself to these spaces, and making use of what one finds there, than in an end result that rarely materializes.

Africa

The other comfort-providing commodity that one attaches oneself to in Tel Aviv is, of course, food.

The New York Times - Travel

Attach supplies to mirror.

WikiHow

Attach to your belt.

WikiHow

It contrasts with ethnic or national identity, which consists roughly of the ethnic group or nation one takes oneself to belong to and the importance one attaches to this.

SEP

With this risk one also exposes oneself to luck.

The New Yorker

How does one explain oneself to the neighbors, after all?

The New York Times

To do otherwise is to expose oneself to emasculating ridicule.

The Guardian - Opinion

In terms of allowing oneself to reflect? "Yeah!

The Guardian - Film

We confine oneself to the case (i=1).

Boundary Value Problems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attach oneself to" when you want to emphasize the act of actively connecting or associating with something, often for personal gain or benefit.

Common error

Ensure the reflexive pronoun ("oneself") agrees with the subject. Avoid using "attach himself to" when the subject is female; use "attach herself to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attach oneself to" functions as a reflexive verb phrase. It describes the action of forming a connection or association with something, where the subject is also the recipient of the action. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attach oneself to" is a versatile expression used to describe the act of forming a connection or association, often with an implication of personal gain or strategic alignment. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. While alternatives like "connect with" and "affiliate with" exist, "attach oneself to" carries a unique nuance, suggesting a deliberate act of association. Remember to maintain reflexive agreement and be mindful of the context when employing this useful phrase. The sources from News & Media and Science are the most frequent, suggesting an unbiased utilization of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become associated with

Focuses on the outcome of forming a connection, rather than the active process.

affiliate oneself with

Implies a formal or official connection.

connect with

A more general term for establishing a relationship.

ally oneself with

Suggests a partnership for mutual benefit.

join forces with

Emphasizes a collaborative effort.

become involved in

Highlights participation in an activity or cause.

dedicate oneself to

Implies a strong commitment and devotion.

commit oneself to

Indicates a firm decision to support something.

gravitate towards

Suggests a natural inclination or attraction.

flock to

Implies moving towards something in a large group.

FAQs

How can I use "attach oneself to" in a sentence?

Use "attach oneself to" to describe someone actively connecting or associating with something, often for personal or professional advancement. For example, "Employees might "attach oneself to" projects that enhance their skills".

What are some alternatives to "attach oneself to"?

You can use alternatives like "become associated with", "affiliate oneself with", or "connect with" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "attach oneself to" or "connect with"?

"Attach oneself to" tends to be slightly more formal than "connect with", which is a more general and widely applicable phrase.

When is it appropriate to use "dedicate oneself to" instead of "attach oneself to"?

"Dedicate oneself to" implies a stronger commitment and devotion than ""attach oneself to"", suggesting a long-term focus and personal investment.