develop a penchant for

USAGE SUMMARY

"develop a penchant for" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to develop a strong liking or tendency towards something. Example: As a child, Mary developed a penchant for drawing and now she is a successful artist.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

One question now may be whether Mr Lafleur and his followers develop a penchant for self-government.

The Economist

At Chelsea he would develop a penchant for crucial goalline clearances: in their successful Champions League campaign of 2012, he denied Christian Maggio of Napoli and Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas at crucial moments.

The Guardian - Sport

IE… you're not going to develop a penchant for Neil deGrasse Tyson and disappointing your parents.

Vice

When you become a Northern Californian -- a true Northern Californian -- you can develop a penchant for -- how do I put this? -- spiritual things.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

We developed a penchant for wine and soft French cheeses.

The New Yorker

They have developed a penchant for western brands.

The Guardian

He has dropped at least 40 pounds and developed a penchant for prison tattoos.

The New York Times

But Smith has developed a penchant for a red ball and a baggy green cap.

The Guardian - Sport

Morgan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but grew up in New England, where he developed a penchant for photography.

Harvard University

Recently, Les Carpenter of Yahoo Sports reprised a familiar argument: Guy developed a penchant for kicking the ball out of bounds.

The New York Times

But, for all his talk of doubt and gray tones, Grass has developed a penchant for shrill political pronouncements.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "develop a penchant for" when you want to express the gradual acquisition of a liking or preference for something, especially something that might seem unusual or unexpected.

Common error

Avoid using "develop a penchant for" too frequently in your writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less engaging. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms such as "acquire a taste for" or "grow fond of" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "develop a penchant for" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the commencement of a liking or inclination towards something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It serves to describe a transformation in one's preferences or interests.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

12%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "develop a penchant for" is a versatile phrase used to describe the gradual acquisition of a taste or liking, often for something unexpected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. While generally neutral in register, it appears frequently in news and media sources. To avoid repetition, consider synonyms like "acquire a taste for" or "grow fond of". The phrase is helpful for expressing a transformation in preferences, but avoid overusing it in your writing. It appears that the phrase is most commonly used in News & Media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop a fondness for

Similar meaning, replacing "penchant" with a more common synonym.

acquire a taste for

Implies a gradual development of liking, often for something initially not appealing.

develop a proclivity for

Replaces "penchant" with a more formal synonym, suggesting a natural inclination.

cultivate an interest in

Suggests a deliberate effort to foster liking or engagement.

grow fond of

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of developing a liking.

become partial to

Indicates a preference or bias that develops over time.

form an affinity for

Indicates a natural connection or sense of kinship developing.

take a liking to

A more immediate and less profound development of liking.

get hooked on

Suggests a strong, potentially addictive liking.

become enamored with

Implies a strong feeling of love and fascination.

FAQs

How can I use "develop a penchant for" in a sentence?

You can use "develop a penchant for" to describe someone starting to like or enjoy something. For example, "After moving to Italy, she developed a penchant for pasta." It shows the gradual emergence of a preference.

What can I say instead of "develop a penchant for"?

You can use alternatives like "acquire a taste for", "grow fond of", or "take a liking to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "develop a penchant for" or "develop a fondness for"?

Both "develop a penchant for" and "develop a fondness for" are correct, but "penchant" implies a slightly stronger and perhaps more idiosyncratic liking than "fondness".

What's the difference between "develop a penchant for" and "develop a habit of"?

"Develop a penchant for" implies a liking or preference, while "develop a habit of" refers to a repeated behavior, often without necessarily implying enjoyment. You might develop a penchant for spicy food, and develop a habit of checking your email every hour.