Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
develop a febrile
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "develop a febrile" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe the process of developing a fever or a state of excitement, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "The patient began to develop a febrile response to the infection."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
Most infections with Leptospira are asymptomatic; however, some infected individuals may develop a febrile illness [ 9], hemorrhage [ 10], and multiorgan failure [ 11].
Although the majority of symptomatic patients develop a febrile illness known as dengue fever (DF) with non-specific symptoms such as headache, fever or myalgia, around 10%% of patients develop a more severe form of disease, severe dengue (SD), that may include plasma leakage, severe hemorrhage and organ failure [ 1].
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
On April 21st, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that two children in Southern California had developed a "febrile respiratory illness" caused by a flu virus that had never before been recognized in humans.
News & Media
By Michael Specter On April 21st, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that two children in Southern California had developed a "febrile respiratory illness" caused by a flu virus that had never before been recognized in humans.
News & Media
None of the patients developed a febrile neutropenic infection, but grade 3 or 4 non-neutropenic infections occurred in 8 patients.
Academia
One child in the SP plus PQ group developed a febrile convulsion.
Science
None of these patients developed a febrile neutropaenia.
Science
The heifers developed a febrile response of 40 41°C within 24 36 h associated with an acute self-curing pneumonia.
A typical scenario is the critically ill patient receiving mechanical ventilation who develops a febrile episode associated with a vague chest infiltrate on X-ray, which could correspond to pneumonia but could equally represent some pulmonary oedema or even atelectasis.
Science
We report the case of a patient known with Basedow-Graves disease, who developed a febrile agranulocytosis under thyrosol, and in which Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from blood culture.
Science
In elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia, a higher mortality rate was observed in patients who lacked fever when compared with patients who developed a febrile response (29% vs. 4%) [ 32].
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When discussing fever, prefer the common phrase "develop a fever" over "develop a febrile". This ensures clarity and avoids potential confusion.
Common error
The term "febrile" is an adjective that should modify a noun (e.g., "febrile illness"). Don't use it as a direct object after "develop"; instead, use "develop a fever" or "develop a febrile illness".
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "develop a febrile" functions as a verb phrase where "develop" is the verb and "a febrile" acts as its object. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrasing is not correct in standard English. Examples from Ludwig show variations like "develop a febrile illness" or "develop a febrile neutropenia".
Frequent in
Science
67%
News & Media
33%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Wiki
0%
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "develop a febrile" may appear in some contexts, Ludwig AI suggests it's not standard English. The more appropriate phrasing is "develop a fever" or "develop a febrile illness". The phrase is most often encountered in scientific and medical domains. Therefore, it is best to prioritize using the term "fever" directly, or adding a noun such as "illness", "condition" or "response".
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
develop a fever
This alternative replaces the adjective "febrile" with the more common noun "fever", simplifying the phrase while maintaining the core meaning.
develop a febrile illness
This alternative adds the noun "illness" to clarify the context, suggesting the development of a feverish sickness.
exhibit febrile symptoms
This alternative replaces "develop" with "exhibit" and uses "symptoms" instead of "a febrile" focusing on displaying symptoms rather than the development itself.
experience a febrile episode
This alternative uses "experience" and replaces "a febrile" with "a febrile episode", emphasizing the occurrence of a feverish event.
present with febrile signs
This alternative uses "present with" instead of "develop" and focuses on the signs of fever rather than its development.
become feverish
This alternative uses the verb "become" and the adjective "feverish", offering a more concise way to express the same concept.
contract a febrile disease
This alternative uses the verb "contract" implying the acquisition of a disease characterized by fever.
show a febrile response
This alternative employs "show a" in place of "develop a", indicating a reaction that involves fever.
manifest febrile characteristics
This alternative uses "manifest" to indicate the appearance of fever-related characteristics.
acquire a febrile condition
This alternative employs "acquire" and "condition" to describe gaining a state associated with fever.
FAQs
What does it mean to "develop a febrile" illness?
While not grammatically ideal, "develop a febrile illness" generally refers to contracting an illness characterized by fever. A clearer alternative is to say "develop a fever".
How can I correctly use the word "febrile" in a sentence?
Use "febrile" as an adjective to describe something related to or characterized by fever. For example, "The child had a febrile seizure" or "The patient presented with a febrile illness".
Is it better to say "develop a fever" or "develop a febrile condition"?
"Develop a fever" is more common and easily understood. "Develop a febrile condition" is grammatically correct but less frequently used.
What are some alternative ways to describe someone becoming feverish?
Besides "develop a fever", you could say they "become feverish", "exhibit febrile symptoms", or "experience a febrile episode".
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested