exactly fond of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exactly fond of" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used to emphasize a strong liking for something, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "I am exactly fond of chocolate cake, especially when it's freshly baked."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Nicholas White wasn't phobic, but he wasn't exactly fond of elevators.

The New Yorker

Yes, developers aren't exactly fond of being pitched to, but they're undeniably curious: what new APIs are out there?

TechCrunch

A Mini Commitment In Season 1, we couldn't imagine wanting to spend more time with the Harmons, but now that we're all well aware of the new-story-every-season format of this show, it'll be a lot less frustrating if there's a character or two we're not exactly fond of.

Huffington Post

Since Kardashian is reportedly still close with Bruce, despite the fact that he and her mother recently revealed that they have separated, we have to wonder if the decision to ice Brody out came from Kris Jenner herself, who Brody was never exactly fond of -- and never did his best to hide it, either.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But just as we grow fond of these characters and their foibles another man ambles onto the property: "He wasn't exactly a fat man.

The New Yorker

He is not exactly shy, but he is also not fond of talking about himself.

The New York Times

Sleeps lightly, fond of gods".

The New York Times - Books

Are you fond of musical instruments?

The New Yorker

Are you fond of children? ‘Yeah.

The Guardian - Film

Kangxi was very fond of learning.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We were fond of the word "flagellation".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, use common alternatives like "really fond of" or "particularly fond of" as they are more readily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "exactly fond of" when a simple "fond of" or a stronger adjective like "very" or "really" would suffice, as it can sound unnatural or overly emphatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly fond of" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a state of liking or affection, though the addition of "exactly" is somewhat unusual and serves to emphasize the feeling, despite Ludwig AI suggesting more common alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exactly fond of" is a grammatically correct but uncommon phrase used to express liking or affection with emphasis. Ludwig AI suggests that it is more appropriate to use other alternatives such as "particularly fond of" or "really fond of" as these choices might make the phrase easier to understand. While understandable, its usage may be perceived as slightly awkward by native English speakers. It appears primarily in news and media contexts but is rare overall, and should be used with caution, considering more common alternatives for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly fond of

Emphasizes a specific liking over general fondness.

especially fond of

Highlights a particular fondness among other things.

really fond of

Indicates a strong level of fondness.

truly fond of

Implies a genuine and sincere fondness.

genuinely fond of

Emphasizes the sincerity and authenticity of the fondness.

quite fond of

Suggests a moderate degree of fondness.

incredibly fond of

Suggests a very intense level of fondness.

exceedingly fond of

Demonstrates a high degree of fondness, more intense than "really".

terribly fond of

Highlights a great level of fondness.

somewhat fond of

Indicates a weaker level of fondness, suggesting a mild liking.

FAQs

What does "exactly fond of" mean?

The phrase "exactly fond of" suggests a precise or definite feeling of fondness. However, it's not a commonly used expression, and more standard alternatives might be clearer.

What can I say instead of "exactly fond of"?

You can use alternatives like "really fond of", "particularly fond of", or simply "fond of" depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "exactly fond of" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase is grammatically correct, but it is not a common expression. While understandable, it might sound slightly awkward or unnatural to native English speakers.

How can I use "exactly fond of" in a sentence?

While possible, it's often better to rephrase using a more common expression. For example, instead of "I'm exactly fond of this painting", you could say "I'm "really fond of" this painting" or "I'm "particularly fond of" this painting".