develop friendship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "develop friendship" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to strengthening a relationship with someone or making a new friendship. For example: "I decided to attend the party so I could develop friendship with people in our local community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A short announcement today from the official North Korean news agency -- as in the case of China's issued only after Mr. Kim had completed his overnight train journey and was safely back home -- described an "unshakable will" to develop friendship with China and said, "Consensus was reached on all matters discussed".

The New York Times

Davis agrees that although it is common for trainees to develop friendship bonds with advisers, there are boundaries that still need to be respected.

Science Magazine

"For Patch, the primary goal is to develop friendship.

Los Angeles Times

"So we have to be proactive to create the lines of dialogue". Amanda Susskind, ADL's Pacific Southwest Region director, said it takes effort and "seeing the same people repeatedly" to develop friendship and trust.

Los Angeles Times

They help youth become self-aware, manage their emotions, build social skills (empathy, perspective-taking, respect for diversity), develop friendship skills and learn positive coping and problem-solving skills.

Huffington Post

These socially savvy kids then learn more about friendship "on the job" while those who can't make friends in the first place miss the chance to develop friendship maintenance skills.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Many companies have attempted to develop friendship-based communities among employees, typically organizing activities such as weekends out, departmental Christmas parties, and so on, in a bid to create emotional ties between workers and the company.

Harvard Business Review

"We have to develop friendships," Mr. Gibbons said.

The New York Times

It's important to develop friendships".

The New York Times

Later on, they develop friendships based on other things".

The New York Times

The happy hours also help him develop friendships with co-workers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "develop friendship" with someone, show genuine interest in their lives, perspectives, and experiences. Ask open-ended questions and actively listen to their responses.

Common error

Avoid rushing the process of "developing friendship". Genuine connections require time, shared experiences, and mutual respect. Don't force intimacy or expect immediate reciprocation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "develop friendship" functions as a verb phrase where "develop" is a transitive verb, and "friendship" is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples, showing its role in expressing the action of creating or strengthening a bond.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "develop friendship" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the process of forming or strengthening a friendly relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. While not extremely frequent, its neutral register makes it suitable for a broad range of applications. To enhance your writing, consider alternatives like "cultivate a friendship" or "foster a friendship" to subtly adjust the nuance. Remember to be genuine and patient in building lasting connections, avoiding the pitfall of expecting instant intimacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cultivate a friendship

Replaces "develop" with "cultivate", suggesting a more intentional and nurturing approach to forming a friendship.

foster a friendship

Uses "foster" instead of "develop", implying active encouragement and support in the growth of a friendship.

build a friendship

Substitutes "develop" with "build", emphasizing the gradual construction and strengthening of a friendship.

form a friendship

Replaces "develop" with "form", highlighting the initial creation or establishment of a friendship.

strengthen a friendship

Focuses on making an existing friendship stronger, rather than starting a new one.

establish rapport

Shifts the focus to creating a harmonious connection and mutual understanding.

nurture a connection

Emphasizes caring for and supporting a budding relationship or bond.

forge a bond

Implies creating a strong and lasting emotional link with someone.

cultivate a relationship

Broadens the scope to any kind of relationship, not specifically friendship.

build bridges

Suggests creating understanding and connection between different people or groups.

FAQs

How can I use "develop friendship" in a sentence?

You can use "develop friendship" to describe the process of forming a bond with someone, such as, "Joining clubs is a great way to "develop friendship" with like-minded individuals".

What are some alternatives to "develop friendship"?

Instead of "develop friendship", you could use phrases like "cultivate a friendship", "foster a friendship", or "build a friendship", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "develop a friendship" or "develop friendship"?

Both "develop a friendship" and "develop friendship" are grammatically correct, but "develop a friendship" is generally more common and natural-sounding. The choice depends on the context, but including the article 'a' provides a slightly more specific meaning.

How does "develop friendship" differ from "maintain friendship"?

"Develop friendship" refers to the initial process of forming a bond, while "maintain friendship" focuses on the ongoing effort required to keep an existing friendship strong over time. They describe different stages of a relationship.