for what someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for what someone" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a reason or purpose related to a person, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "I am grateful for what someone has done for me."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"For what?" someone asked.

The New York Times

MR. KING: Is he responsible for what someone else says?

The New York Times

"I'm not responsible for what someone says or doesn't say.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The unique feature of the sentence is that it is not just imposed for what someone has done in the past but for what they might do in the future.

The Guardian - Opinion

Furthermore, even a painful desire for what someone else possesses might be better described as longing than envy.

SEP

You can easily get a feel for what someone posts and make an educated decision about whether to follow them from a quick glance at their grid.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Ed Halliwell, a meditation author and writer for The Guardian's Web site, said Mr. Puddicombe is "doing for meditation what someone like Jamie Oliver has done for food".

The New York Times

It might just do for Leona what Someone Like You has done for Adele.

The Guardian - Music

The Times has written that Puddicombe is "doing for meditation what someone like Jamie Oliver has done for food".

The New Yorker

Murphy argues that we diagnose delusions when folk psychology runs out of resources for understanding what someone seems to report as a genuine belief.

SEP

Are you doing what's best for you or what someone else thinks or says is best for you?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe your sentence to use grammatically correct alternatives. For example, instead of asking "for what someone is known", consider "what is someone known for?" which clearly conveys the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid directly translating phrases from other languages into English without adapting them to English grammatical rules. The phrase "for what someone" often sounds awkward because it doesn't align with typical English sentence structures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for what someone" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to introduce a clause related to a person. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. The examples in Ludwig show the phrase used in contexts where the intended meaning is often unclear or awkwardly phrased.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for what someone" is grammatically unconventional and often unclear. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase does not align with standard English grammatical rules. While examples exist across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it's advisable to use more precise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "what is someone responsible for" or "what motivates someone". Opting for clearer phrasing enhances communication and ensures your writing aligns with established English language conventions. Due to its awkward structure it should not be used in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is someone responsible for

Focuses on the responsibility aspect, changing the preposition and adding the verb 'responsible'.

what someone is accountable for

Similar to 'responsible', but with a slightly different nuance of being answerable.

what someone is known for

Emphasizes recognition or reputation, differing in focus from the original phrase.

what a person is liable for

Replaces 'someone' with 'a person' and uses 'liable', indicating legal responsibility.

the reason someone is

Focuses on the cause or explanation for someone's state or action.

what motivates someone

Highlights the underlying reasons or incentives behind someone's actions.

what someone deserves

Addresses fairness and entitlement, shifting the focus from cause to consequence.

the purpose someone has

Highlights the aims and goals that a person is trying to achieve.

what someone intends to do

Focuses on planned actions and intentions, changing the tense and construction.

the rationale behind someone's actions

Explores the reasoning and justification for a person's behavior.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "for what someone" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "what is someone known for" or "what is someone responsible for" depending on the context.

Is "for what someone" grammatically correct in English?

No, "for what someone" does not follow standard English grammar rules. It's better to rephrase your sentence for clarity and correctness.

What does "for what someone" try to express?

The phrase generally attempts to inquire about the reason, purpose, or consequence related to a particular person. However, it's grammatically unconventional.

What's a more formal way to express the idea behind "for what someone"?

In a more formal setting, use phrases like "the rationale behind someone's actions" or specify "what a person is liable for" for better clarity.