care to

USAGE SUMMARY

"care to" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to politely offer someone the chance to do something, or to politely ask if someone wishes to do something. For example: "Care to join me for dinner tonight?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Care to comment?

The New Yorker

Care to try again?

The New York Times

Care to explain?

The New Yorker

Care to bet? Democracy?

The Economist

Anyone care to discuss?

The New York Times

Care to defend yourself?

The New York Times

Care to Climb?

The New York Times - Arts

Care to dance?

The New York Times - Arts

Did he care to elaborate?

The New Yorker

"Care to join the experiment?

Independent

Anything you'd care to disclose?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "care to" when you want to make a polite and somewhat formal invitation or suggestion. It's more refined than a simple "do you want to".

Common error

Avoid using "care to" in very casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or even sarcastic if used inappropriately. In such cases, simpler alternatives like "want to" or "do you want to" are more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "care to" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase used to make a polite offer or invitation. It often precedes a verb, suggesting an action or activity. Ludwig indicates this usage is standard and accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "care to" is a versatile and frequently used expression to extend invitations or make polite inquiries, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its grammatical function centers around making offers, and it generally adopts a neutral register, fitting well in news, media, and even some business contexts. Ludwig AI highlights its correct usage. While "care to" is quite common, context matters; it's more suitable for situations requiring politeness than overly casual settings. For similar expressions, consider "would you like to" or "are you interested in".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Would you like to

A more common and slightly less formal way to ask if someone wants to do something.

Do you want to

A direct and informal way of asking about someone's willingness.

Are you interested in

Focuses on gauging someone's interest rather than a direct invitation.

Would you be willing to

Emphasizes the person's willingness and capability to do something.

May I invite you to

A very formal and polite invitation.

How about we

Suggests a joint activity, implying an invitation.

Fancy joining

A British English colloquialism for inviting someone.

Are you up for

An informal way to inquire about someone's interest in an activity.

Want to

A shortened, very informal version of "do you want to".

Feel inclined to

Asks about someone's disposition or inclination toward something.

FAQs

How to use "care to" in a sentence?

You can use "care to" to politely offer someone something or invite them to do something. For example, "Care to join us for dinner?" or "Care to elaborate on that point?".

What can I say instead of "care to"?

You can use alternatives like "would you like to", "do you want to", or "are you interested in" depending on the context.

Is "care to" formal or informal?

"Care to" is generally considered more formal than phrases like "want to" or "do you want to", but less formal than a direct invitation like "May I invite you to". It strikes a balance between politeness and approachability.

When is it inappropriate to use "care to"?

It might be inappropriate to use "care to" in very casual or informal settings, where it could sound overly stilted or sarcastic. Choose simpler alternatives in those situations.