extend favors

USAGE SUMMARY

"extend favors" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe offering assistance or doing something generous or helpful for someone. For example: "In order to create a better working environment, Jane decided to extend favors to her coworkers when they asked for help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Just for starters, lawmakers should bar future governors from stocking the department with political appointees and using them to extend favors or exact retribution.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But the 76ers have been good enough to extend favored Boston to the maximum.

The New York Times - Sports

Our goal as "gracists" must be to extend favor to all who are on the margins regardless of, maybe even because of, color, class, or culture.

Huffington Post

The charged officers, accused of extending favors, seemed to have received a favor of their own from the authorities.

The New York Times

The Albany County district attorney has begun a formal criminal inquiry into the dealings of a private prison company that gained millions of dollars in state work while extending favors to several state lawmakers.

The New York Times

This idea of God extending "favor" to people is also dangerous.

Huffington Post

The deal also raises a question about why Disney management did not seek to extend such favors to Talk magazine, another celebrity-heavy magazine in which Disney, through Miramax Films, is already a partner.

The New York Times

rules require that nations extend most-favored nation status to all members.

The New York Times

1962 Japan Given Trade Status LONDON — Britain today [Nov. 14] signed a six-year liberalized trade treaty with Japan under which it will extend "most-favored-nation" treatment to the Asian state.

The New York Times

He is honest in arguing that American troops would have to be deployed throughout the rugged and otherwise inhospitable terrain of rural Afghanistan, entering intimately into the ways of local life so as to win the hearts and minds of a people who clearly wish we would not extend the favor.

Huffington Post

But the rules say nothing to prohibit her office from extending informal favors to constituents, irrespective of any financial interest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "extend favors" when you want to convey that someone is offering help or special treatment, often in a professional or formal context. Ensure the context doesn't imply impropriety or unethical behavior, as it can sometimes carry a negative connotation.

Common error

Be mindful that "extend favors" can sometimes imply a degree of obligation or even impropriety, especially when the favors are significant or seem undeserved. Avoid using it in contexts where impartiality and fairness are essential.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extend favors" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of granting assistance, privileges, or special treatment to someone. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it describes offering assistance or doing something generous or helpful.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extend favors" is a verb phrase used to describe offering help or special treatment, often with connotations of obligation or potential impropriety. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. While it appears most frequently in news and media, caution should be exercised in contexts requiring impartiality, as the phrase can suggest bias. Related phrases include "grant a favor" and "offer preferential treatment", providing alternative ways to express similar ideas with varying degrees of formality and implication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grant a favor

Focuses on the act of granting a specific request or act of kindness.

give special consideration

Implies thoughtful attention and advantage.

bestow advantages

Highlights the act of conferring benefits or opportunities.

offer preferential treatment

Emphasizes treating someone better than others, possibly unfairly.

make an exception

Focuses on deviating from the norm for someone's benefit.

show partiality

Highlights bias in favor of someone.

oblige someone

To do something as a favor or service for someone.

bend the rules

Suggests slightly breaking rules to help someone.

give a leg up

Highlights providing help to someone to get ahead.

do a good turn

Suggests performing an act of kindness.

FAQs

How can I use "extend favors" in a sentence?

You can say, "The governor was accused of "extending favors" to political allies", or "The company decided to "extend favors" to its loyal customers during the holiday season".

What does "extend favors" mean?

To "extend favors" means to offer assistance, grant privileges, or provide special treatment to someone, often going beyond what is normally expected or deserved.

What are some alternatives to "extend favors"?

You can use alternatives such as "grant a favor", "offer preferential treatment", or "give special consideration depending on the specific context".

Is "extend favors" formal or informal?

"Extend favors" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in formal or professional settings, especially when discussing ethical implications. The formality largely depends on the situation in which is used.