befriending one another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "befriending one another" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where individuals are forming friendships or building connections with each other. Example: "In our community, we focus on befriending one another to create a supportive environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The meeting has been an organic one, a matter of musicians who befriended one another at clubs like the Empty Bottle and began making music together.

The New York Times - Arts

Like their flesh-and-blood counterparts, the computer-generated residents of VLES (which opened to the public last week) are free to walk a familiar gritty strip between Houston and Rivington Streets, befriend one another, watch music videos, hang out at rock shows, form their own bands and get into as much after-hours miscreancy as the Web site's programmers will allow.

The New York Times - Arts

Thank you again and again, for the dreams and teaching me to use my mind and imagination, for creating a refuge that sheltered many a teenager, and allowed many "geeks -and- nerds" to find and befriend one another.

BBC

"For their community to remain united, they needed to befriend one another," he said.

Huffington Post

I remember befriending one ultra conservative hijabi girl in Cairo who loved to debate religion.

Vice

A few months later, after befriending one of the priests, she returned and the Virgin changed her mind and chose Margarita to tell the rest of the world the story of Nueva Jerusalén.

Vice

(Just a few hours later, we all befriend one another on Facebook. Now I have chums in Kenya!).

Huffington Post

If you are not, you should befriend one and free ride on his or her connections – people are generally willing to share.

Harvard Business Review

Lieutenant Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff's Department also said a community college instructor who had befriended one of the fugitives was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of assisting in the escape by furnishing the inmates with Google Maps information.

Huffington Post

He befriended one of the Kentucky student managers, for example, on his many trips to Wildcats games and helped get him a job on Wall Street upon graduation.

The New York Times - Sports

("Bring on the dancing girls!" someone shouts). In time, she befriends one of her mother's students, a 10-year-old boy named Xiao Yong Huang Xingraoo), who keeps a pet rabbit and a duck, and eagerly returns her attentions in kind.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "befriending one another" to emphasize a reciprocal and mutual process of forming friendships within a group or community. It suggests a sense of shared effort and connection.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "befriending one another" can sound slightly formal or stilted in casual conversation. Opt for more natural alternatives like "making friends" or "getting to know each other" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "befriending one another" functions as a participial phrase, often used to describe an action that individuals within a group are undertaking to establish or strengthen social bonds. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "befriending one another" is a grammatically correct way to describe individuals forming friendships or positive relationships within a group. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While generally neutral in tone, it leans slightly towards formality, making it more suitable for emphasizing the mutual aspect of building connections. The phrase appears infrequently, mainly in news and media contexts. Consider more common alternatives like "making friends" or "getting to know each other" for informal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming friends with each other

Focuses on the outcome of the befriending process: the state of being friends.

forming friendships with each other

Emphasizes the creation of bonds of friendship.

making friends with one another

A more common and slightly less formal way of expressing the same idea.

cultivating relationships with each other

Suggests a more deliberate and nurturing approach to forming connections.

connecting with one another

A broader term encompassing any kind of positive interaction or shared experience.

building relationships with one another

Highlights the process of constructing strong connections over time.

establishing rapport with each other

Focuses on creating a harmonious and understanding relationship.

getting to know each other

Emphasizes the initial stage of building a connection through learning about one another.

fostering camaraderie with each other

Emphasizes creating a sense of fellowship and mutual support.

developing bonds with one another

Focuses on the evolution and strengthening of connections over time.

FAQs

What does "befriending one another" mean?

The phrase "befriending one another" means that people are making friends or forming positive relationships with each other. It emphasizes a mutual process of building connections and camaraderie.

Is "befriending one another" formal or informal?

While grammatically correct, "befriending one another" tends to be more formal. In informal contexts, phrases like "making friends" or "getting to know each other" might sound more natural.

What are some synonyms for "befriending one another"?

Synonyms include "becoming friends with each other", "forming friendships with each other", and "making friends with one another". These alternatives can provide similar meaning with slight variations in emphasis.

How can I use "befriending one another" in a sentence?

You might say, "The organization promotes befriending one another among its members to create a supportive community" or "The workshop focused on befriending one another to foster collaboration".