election for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "election for" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe the process of choosing a person for a particular position or role through voting. Example: The students held an election for class president.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Forget the election for mayor.

The New York Times

Fox called the election for Bush.

The New Yorker

Tells about coming election for Mayor.

The New Yorker

There's not an election for 11 months".

The New York Times

The 2010 election for mayor wasn't pretty.

The Guardian

"He's probably lost the election for us today," they said.

Independent

Ms Gillard had called a federal election for September 14th.

The Economist

"It's not an election for pope," Mr. Hu said.

The New York Times

Mr Howard has called a general election for November 24th.

The Economist

The election for president of FIFA was three weeks away.

The New York Times - Sports

It is Egypt's first fully free election for six decades.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "election for", ensure the context clearly indicates the position or role being contested. For example, "election for president" is more precise than simply "the election".

Common error

Avoid using "election for" when referring to general elections without specifying the office. Instead of "the election for the country", specify "the general election" or "the election for prime minister."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "election for" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase specifying the purpose or object of an election. It clarifies what position or role is being contested, as seen in Ludwig's examples, such as "election for mayor" or "election for president".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "election for" is a common and grammatically correct way to specify the purpose of an election, according to Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in news and media to clarify which position or office is being contested. While versatile, it's best to use this phrase with a clear designation of the role, such as "election for president". Alternatives like "vote for" or "race for" can be used to emphasize different aspects of the electoral process. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for a variety of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vote for

Focuses on the act of voting rather than the overall election process.

poll for

Similar to vote, highlights the act of expressing preference.

balloting for

More formal term emphasizing the voting process.

selection for

Emphasizes the choosing aspect, which might not always involve voting.

contest for

Highlights the competitive aspect of the election.

plebiscite for

A vote giving people the chance to express their opinion for or against a proposal relating to a particular issue.

referendum on

Specifically refers to a vote on a particular issue.

race for

Metaphorical, emphasizing the competition element.

campaign for

Emphasizes the promotional activities before an election.

nominations for

Highlights the preliminary process of selecting candidates.

FAQs

How can I use "election for" in a sentence?

You can use "election for" to specify the position or office being contested, such as "The upcoming "election for mayor"" or "the special "election for the Senate" seat".

What's a more formal alternative to "election for"?

A more formal alternative would be "selection process for", which emphasizes the formal procedure of choosing a candidate or official.

What can I say instead of "election for" to emphasize the competition?

To emphasize the competitive aspect, consider using "race for", as in "the "race for governor"".

Is there a difference between "election for" and "elections held"?

"Election for" specifies the purpose of the election, while "elections held" refers to the act of conducting elections, implying a specific timeframe.