find around

USAGE SUMMARY

'find around' is not correct and usable in written English.
It does not make sense in a sentence. You could use the phrase 'look around' instead. Example: I looked around the room but I couldn't find my keys.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Good news is hard to find around Fukushima.

The Guardian

I'll read Vogue, Elle, Women's Wear Daily, whatever I can find around the house.

The New York Times

They're certainly naturalized, though, and not hard to find around here".

The New York Times - Science

The German lender may need to find around 9 billion euros of capital to pass Europe's latest bank stress test.

The New York Times

Childhood reminiscences of grandfather who labelled and indexed every useless thing he could find around the house, and stored them in the attic.

The New Yorker

One product you won't find around anymore is Pierre Cardin wine.

Forbes

Kaehler incorporates into her workouts objects that anyone can find around the house.

Forbes

In practice, given the prime minister's desire for personal tax cuts, a Tory government would probably have to find around £40bn more cuts than Labour.

BBC

They had no flint on The Antique Tribe, but they had one thing you'll always find around senior citizens: glasses.

Huffington Post

Simply do like we say and recreate all its pleasures from stuff you can easily find around the house.

Vice

"Tbh, I mostly just take stuff I find around, URL or IRL, and use it as I please.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "find around" in formal writing. Opt for more standard phrases like "find nearby", "find in the area", or "look around" for clarity and correctness.

Common error

The verb "find" typically doesn't combine with "around" to indicate location. It's more accurate to use "find in", "find near", or "find within" followed by a specific place or area.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "find around" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase indicating the act of locating something within a certain area. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this combination is not considered correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

32%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "find around" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect in standard English. Its intended meaning typically involves locating something within a particular area. For clearer and more accurate communication, it is advisable to use alternatives like "find nearby", "look around", or "find in the area". Although frequently used, especially in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts, substituting it with a more precise and grammatically sound alternative will improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Find locally

Emphasizes that something can be found within the local area.

Locate nearby

Focuses on proximity, suggesting the object is close by.

Find in the vicinity

Adds a more formal tone and emphasizes the general area where something can be located.

Search locally

Emphasizes the act of searching within the local area to find something

Discover in the area

Highlights the act of discovery within a specific region.

Find in the neighborhood

Indicates a search within a small community. It can be used when something is to be found in a limited perimeter.

Come across in the vicinity

Suggests a chance encounter while emphasizing the general area.

Unearth around

Implies discovering something hidden while keeping the search in the general perimeter

Find within reach

Indicates that a thing can be easily obtained in a specific location

Find at hand

Emphasizes the ease of finding something nearby and readily usable

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "find around"?

The correct alternatives depend on the context. You can use phrases like "find nearby", "find in the area", or simply "look around".

Is it grammatically correct to use "find around" in a sentence?

No, "find around" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternative prepositions or phrases to convey your intended meaning.

What does "find around" mean, and why is it often misused?

The intended meaning is usually to locate something in a general area. It's misused because the combination of "find" and "around" doesn't follow standard English prepositional usage. Use more precise prepositions like "in" or "near" instead.

Which is correct, "find around" or "look around"?

"Look around" is the correct and more common phrase when you mean to search in a general area. "Find around" is not standard English.