confess for

USAGE SUMMARY

"confess for" is not a correct phrase in written English.
To express the concept of confessing something to someone, you would say "confess to." For example: "He had to confess to his mistake."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"Just remember," warns one of the villains trying to force Hopper to confess, "for every decision there is a consequence".

The New York Times - Arts

"Jim believed that people of this ilk would confess for only one reason: sheer terror," said one C.I.A. official who had discussed the matter with Dr. Mitchell.

The New York Times

They wanted me to confess for everything that I had done all my life, from my first cigarette to my first kiss".

The New York Times - Magazine

(I confess, for example, to having at times been strangely moved by the phrase "Caution: Contents May Be Hot"). Maybe especially for the least religious among us, who rarely read a designated holy book, this holy sense can go general.

The New York Times - Books

They wanted me to confess for everything that I had done all my life, from my first cigarette to my first kiss". In 1991, Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience.

The New York Times - Magazine

The logical option would be for both to "defect" and confess for fear the other one would; this seemingly logical outcome is actually to the detriment of both, who would have been better off if neither confessed.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He confesses for hours.

The New York Times

This pattern was not torn apart when it 'broke' Malinski and he confessed for the first time.

Cornell University

The Northern Irishman confessed: "For me, being a Manchester United fan, it was the highlight of the week so far.

Independent

He said he was held in solitary confinement for 335 days and resisted confessing for the first two months.

The New York Times

If Madoff hadn't confessed — for reasons that remain unclear — he might still be rounding up new victims.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "confess to" when expressing the act of admitting something. For example, instead of "I confess for my sins", say "I confess to my sins".

Common error

Avoid using "for" after "confess". The correct preposition is "to". Using "for" can make your writing sound unnatural and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confess for" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase indicating the act of admitting something with a specified reason or purpose. However, it's important to note that Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "confess for" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests using "confess to" instead. The intended purpose is to express an admission, often with a reason, and the phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academic contexts. When writing, avoid using "confess for" and opt for the grammatically correct alternative, "confess to", to ensure clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confess to

This is the grammatically correct and standard way to express admitting to something.

admit to

Similar to 'confess to', but can imply a less formal or serious admission.

acknowledge responsibility for

Focuses on accepting the blame or duty for something.

take responsibility for

Emphasizes the act of assuming accountability for an action or outcome.

own up to

An informal way of saying to admit responsibility for something.

come clean about

Suggests revealing hidden or previously concealed information.

fess up to

A colloquial way to say 'confess' or 'admit'.

declare

A more formal way to reveal something, often publicly.

disclose

To reveal information, especially that which was previously private.

reveal

To make known something that was previously secret or unknown.

FAQs

How do I correctly use the verb 'confess'?

The correct usage is "confess to" followed by what you are admitting. For example, "I must "confess to my mistake"" is correct, while "I confess for my mistake" is incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "confess to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "admit to", "acknowledge", or "reveal".

Is it ever correct to use "confess for"?

While you might find instances of "confess for", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The standard and accepted form is "confess to".

What's the difference between "confess to" and "confess" on its own?

"Confess to" always requires specifying what you are confessing. "Confess" can be used alone when the object is implied or already known, but it's often better to be explicit with "confess to" for clarity.