develop a flu

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "develop a flu" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "develop" is not the appropriate verb for acquiring an illness like the flu; instead, "catch" or "contract" is more suitable. Example: "I think I might catch the flu this season if I'm not careful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Because of this concern, Bush mobilized the CDC, NIH and other arms of the government to develop a flu plan.

Johns Hopkins University

Because flu viruses mutate rapidly, researchers have found it difficult to develop a flu vaccine with long-term protection.

Huffington Post

Ohio State recently received a five-year $2.2 million grant to develop a flu vaccine that would vastly improve the odds of protecting both humans and animals from the flu virus.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

To support development of such a vaccine, we have developed a Flu Multiplex Assay based on a Luminex® platform to assess serum antibody levels to two conserved peptides derived from influenza A (M2 protein) and influenza B (hemagglutinin protein).

Journal of Immunological Methods

In developing a flu vaccine, researchers have managed (so far) to outsmart their foe.

The New York Times - Magazine

Aviron, a company developing a flu vaccine, arranged an equity line from Acqua Wellington in January, 2000.

The New York Times

VaxInnate, a company in Cranbury, New Jersey, is developing a flu vaccine made in E. coli, which requires far less volume for manufacturing than animal cells.

Science Magazine

The unidentified volunteer developed a flu-like illness 24 hours after inhaling hexamethonium, which the Food and Drug Administration classifies as an experimental drug, and was admitted to the hospital.

The New York Times

Interestingly, six of the 24 nurses who cared for the researcher developed acute respiratory infections and four out of the five doctors developed a "flu-like" illness with gastrointestinal symptoms.

BBC

Eligible participants were excluded if they had received expectorants, mucolytics or natural products for respiratory conditions during the previous 30 days, or had developed a flu-like illness immediately before the study.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

In a meeting at the White House last month, the philanthropist said he tried to get Trump interested in helping to develop a universal flu vaccine — and also to buy into the importance of pandemic preparedness.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more common and accurate verbs like "catch", "contract", or "get" when referring to acquiring the flu. This ensures clarity and avoids grammatical errors.

Common error

Avoid using "develop" with illnesses like the flu. "Develop" typically refers to gradual processes or creations, not contagious diseases. Instead, opt for verbs that indicate acquisition or contraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "develop a flu" functions as a verb phrase where 'develop' is used incorrectly as a transitive verb to describe acquiring an illness. Ludwig AI notes that 'develop' is not the appropriate verb. The correct usage involves verbs like 'catch' or 'contract'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "develop a flu" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the verb "develop" is not appropriate for describing the acquisition of a contagious illness like the flu. More suitable alternatives include "catch the flu", "contract the flu", or "get the flu". Although examples of this phrase can be found in various sources, including news and scientific articles, it is advisable to use the correct alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Using phrases like "catch the flu" or "get the flu" improves the overall quality and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catch the flu

Uses a more common and natural verb for acquiring an illness.

contract the flu

Offers a more formal synonym for acquiring an illness.

get the flu

Provides a simple and widely understood way to express acquiring the flu.

come down with the flu

Suggests the onset of the flu, implying a gradual development of symptoms.

experience flu symptoms

Shifts the focus to the symptoms rather than the act of contracting the flu.

suffer from the flu

Emphasizes the negative experience and impact of the flu.

be infected with the flu

Uses a more clinical term for having the flu.

acquire the flu virus

Focuses on the acquisition of the virus itself.

become ill with the flu

Highlights the state of being sick with the flu.

show symptoms of the flu

Similar to 'experience flu symptoms', but emphasizes the manifestation of symptoms.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say you got the flu?

Instead of saying "develop a flu", you should say "catch the flu", "get the flu", or "contract the flu".

Is it grammatically correct to say "develop a flu"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct usage is to say "catch the flu", "get the flu", or "contract the flu".

What's the difference between "develop a flu" and "catch the flu"?

"Develop a flu" is not standard English. The correct and commonly used phrase is "catch the flu", as "develop" implies a process of creation, not the acquisition of an illness.

Can I use "develop" to describe getting any other illness?

While "develop" is generally not used for contagious illnesses like the flu, it can be used for conditions that arise over time, such as "develop a cough" or "develop symptoms". However, for directly acquiring a contagious disease, "catch" or "contract" are better choices.