extend my hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extend my hand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are offering help, friendship, or a greeting to someone. Example: "In a gesture of goodwill, I would like to extend my hand to those in need of support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I want to extend my hand to them".

The New Yorker

"A thousand shekels," I say and extend my hand.

The New Yorker

"I want to extend my hand to President Obama," Mr. Toomey said.

The New York Times

"I'll continue to extend my hand to you," he concluded, "and I hope you'll take it".

The New York Times

Brothers, let me extend my hand to you in our mutual exclusion.

The New York Times

"I walked up to extend my hand," said the County Legislature's Republican minority leader, Peter J. Schmitt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

At the outset of his speech the senator said he was extending "my hand of friendship," and he hoped that listeners would accept his criticism in that spirit.

The New York Times

I extended my hand.

The New York Times - Health

I turned my board ever-so-slightly to get closer and extended my hand.

The New York Times - Travel

"I once made a terrible mistake by extending my hand, which one doesn't do".

The New Yorker

I extended my hand and told him my name was David.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "extend my hand" to convey a sense of sincerity and willingness to connect or reconcile with someone. It often implies a desire to move past disagreements or offer assistance.

Common error

Avoid using "extend my hand" in purely transactional contexts where a simple request or instruction is more appropriate. This phrase carries a weight of goodwill and should not be used lightly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extend my hand" functions as a performative utterance, enacting the offer of friendship, assistance, or reconciliation. Ludwig examples show the phrase used in contexts of political appeals and personal gestures of goodwill. It signals intent and invites a reciprocal action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extend my hand" is a versatile expression signifying an offer of friendship, assistance, or reconciliation. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and formal contexts. It conveys a sincere desire to connect and build a positive relationship. While it's important to be mindful of the nuance to avoid misuse, "extend my hand" remains a powerful way to express goodwill and promote collaboration. Alternatives like "offer my hand" or "reach out to" can be used for slight variations in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer my hand

Replaces "extend" with "offer", slightly changing the formality.

offer assistance

Directly states the act of providing help.

reach out to

Implies a more general effort to connect or assist.

offer a handshake

Specifically refers to the gesture of shaking hands, indicating agreement or greeting.

give my support

Focuses on providing assistance and encouragement.

show goodwill

Emphasizes the intention of demonstrating positive intent.

foster reconciliation

Highlights the goal of restoring friendly relations.

make an overture

Indicates an attempt to initiate friendly relations or negotiations.

propose collaboration

Suggests working together towards a common goal.

seek common ground

Indicates an effort to find areas of agreement.

FAQs

What does "extend my hand" mean?

The phrase "extend my hand" is a symbolic gesture indicating an offer of friendship, help, reconciliation, or agreement. It implies a willingness to connect and build a positive relationship.

When is it appropriate to use "extend my hand"?

Use "extend my hand" when you want to convey sincerity and a genuine desire to bridge a gap or offer support. It's suitable for situations involving conflict resolution, new partnerships, or expressing sympathy.

What can I say instead of "extend my hand"?

You can use alternatives like "offer my hand", "reach out to", or "offer assistance" depending on the context.

Is "extend my hand" formal or informal?

"Extend my hand" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal expression. While suitable for professional contexts, it's also appropriate in personal situations where you want to convey sincerity and respect.