dears

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dears" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a term of endearment used affectionately to address or refer to one or more persons (i.e. friends, family, and/or significant others). For example, "Good morning, dears. I hope you all had a good night's rest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With it comes a vogue for interminable breast-feeding, "co-sleeping" (taking the little dears to bed with you) and endless parental attention.

The Economist

On the other side, Mr Bush's attempts to woo female voters claiming to be a "peace president", championing education reform and trying to bribe the older dears with prescription-drug benefits—are not going that well; so he is all the keener to hold his main electoral fortress.

The Economist

Each of these little dears should produce one tonne of dirty nappies before he or she is potty-trained: most of that ends up in landfills.The state of California and Santa Clarita have each contributed $250,000 to set up the scheme.

The Economist

Amy Jordan, an academic who recently compiled a report on children's television for the Annenberg Public Policy Centre in Pennsylvania, found that Nickelodeon accounted for 18 out of 75 programmes listed as "high quality", more than any other broadcaster.The channel's magic recipe has been to see the little dears as an audience in their own right, rather than appendages of their parents.

The Economist

"Do you think my dears... that we could have warned each of you?

Independent

The Dears The Canadian band's new album Missiles is one of their best orchestral melodramatic indie-rock records yet.

Independent

But the poor dears at the Task Force complain they can't possibly be expected to come up with realistic estimates for these until we know how much gas is there.

Independent

Oh no; snow is now a health and safety issue, and we can't have the little dears falling and hurting themselves.

Independent

So, old Gideon's logic goes, let's throw the poor dears a bone.

Independent

Indeed, Mitchell later tweeted his apparent amusement at the public anger, saying "Calm down dears"; presumably a deliberate reference to David Cameron's sexist comment to Angela Eagle in the House of Commons.

Independent

Felicitations, dears and dudes, Let's see some Yuley attitudes — Come bump the chest and dap a fist With élite types upon our list (Each of them in private thinking, This could be my Christmas inking) And wish them and their couplets well On this retrieval of Noël.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dears" to add a touch of warmth or familiarity when addressing an audience or group, but be mindful of the context and relationship to avoid sounding condescending or insincere. Sarcastic use is also acceptable, but use with caution.

Common error

Avoid sprinkling "dears" excessively in professional or formal settings, as it can come across as overly familiar or even patronizing. Opt for more neutral terms like "colleagues" or "esteemed guests" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dears" is as a plural noun used as a term of endearment. It's typically used in direct address to show affection or familiarity, as seen in Ludwig's examples. However, Ludwig's examples also show it can be employed sarcastically.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dears" functions as a plural noun, typically used as a term of endearment to express affection or sarcasm. As Ludwig AI verifies, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly found in various sources, especially news and media. Although "dears" is a correct and usable word, remember to consider the context of its use, steering clear of overuse in formal and professional environments to prevent conveying the wrong message. Related terms like "my loves" or "sweethearts" can substitute the phrase in less-formal contexts, and more formal options include addressing people by their titles or surnames. Understanding the subtle nuances of the term is essential for effective communication, as highlighted by Ludwig's example sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

my loves

Replaces "dears" with another affectionate term, emphasizing love or fondness.

my sweets

Uses a term implying sweetness or pleasantness instead of "dears".

sweethearts

A classic term of endearment, similar in warmth to "dears".

my cherished ones

Emphasizes the value and importance of the people being addressed, a more formal alternative.

friends

A more neutral and universally applicable term to address a group.

everyone

A simple and direct way to address a group of people without endearment.

ladies and gentlemen

A formal and polite way to address a mixed-gender group.

folks

An informal and friendly way to address a group of people.

y'all

A colloquial contraction of "you all", common in some dialects and regions.

you people

Can be a neutral or slightly dismissive way to address a group, depending on tone.

FAQs

How can I use "dears" in a sentence?

You can use "dears" as a term of endearment, such as in "Come in, "come in" my "dears",' he exclaims" or sarcastically, like in "Calm down, "calm down" "dears"".

What's a more formal alternative to "dears"?

In a professional setting, consider using alternatives like "esteemed colleagues" or simply addressing people by their names instead of using the more informal "dears".

Is it always appropriate to use "dears"?

No, the appropriateness of using "dears" depends on the context and your relationship with the people you're addressing. It is generally suitable for informal settings with people you know well, but less so in formal or professional environments.

When might "dears" be perceived negatively?

"Dears" can be perceived as condescending or patronizing if used with strangers, people in positions of authority, or in contexts where a more respectful tone is expected. It's important to be mindful of your audience and adjust your language accordingly.