foretell for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "foretell for" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may confuse readers, as "foretell" typically does not require a preposition like "for." Example: "The oracle was able to foretell the future."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Still, it is uncertain what this small number of elections might foretell for next year.

The New York Times

What did The West Wing foretell for the final battle between Democrat and Republican?

The Guardian

The war was the first catastrophe that manifested the terror that Chekhov seemed to foretell for his characters.

The Guardian

And while national eyes are focused on what the byelection, triggered by the sudden death of the longtime MP Don Randall, will bode for the future of the prime minister, Tony Abbott, or foretell for the next general election, voters in the semi-rural electorate are much more parochial.

The Guardian

In the wake of the trial, the music industry has been feverishly speculating what, if anything, the jury's decision might foretell for the future of creativity, both within and outside of the billion-dollar pop machine.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The eventual doom of American blue laws has been foretold, for the most part accurately, since at least the nineteen-eighties.

The New Yorker

The April sinkings represented 852,000 gross tons, to be compared both with the 600,000 postulated by the German strategists as their monthly target and with the 700,000 that the British in March had pessimistically foretold for June.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Potter fans are likely to be angered by the portrayal of their bespectacled hero as "the magical child whose ominous coming has been foretold for the past hundred years" and who is now about to unleash "his promised aeon of unending terror", starting with north London.

The Guardian - Books

The rise of the chatbot has been foretold for some time but only in the past few weeks with Facebook's Messenger bots, chat app Kik's bot store and the rise of subversive artbots have they really hit the public consciousness.

The Guardian - Tech

As far as its hardware goes, it seems to be the sort of incremental upgrade that people have been foretelling for weeks now, but that's really only half of the equation here.

TechCrunch

Neil, the second of the Roseberys' sons, entered politics and a promising future was foretold for him.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "foretell for" in your writing. Opt for stronger alternatives like "predict", "forecast", or "foresee" for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

Common error

The verb "foretell" generally doesn't require a preposition like "for". Using "foretell for" can create awkward or grammatically incorrect sentences. Always follow "foretell" with the object of prediction directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foretell for" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe prediction or anticipation. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is not grammatically sound, as "foretell" typically doesn't require the preposition "for".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "foretell for" presents a grammatical challenge. Ludwig AI identifies it as an incorrect construction, as the verb "foretell" typically doesn't require the preposition "for". While examples exist across various contexts, including News & Media and Science, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "predict", "forecast", or "foresee" to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predict

This is a direct replacement, focusing on the act of stating what will happen in the future.

forecast

Emphasizes a detailed and calculated prediction, often related to weather or economic trends.

foresee

Highlights the ability to see or know something in advance.

anticipate

Focuses on expecting something to happen and preparing for it.

divine

Suggests discovering something through intuition or supernatural means.

prophesy

Implies a prediction based on divine inspiration or religious conviction.

soothsay

Similar to prophesy, but often associated with older, less formal traditions.

augur

To be a sign of especially good or bad things in the future

foreshadow

To hint at something to come

portend

Indicates that something important or dangerous is likely to happen in the future.

FAQs

Is "foretell for" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "foretell for" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "foretell" typically doesn't require the preposition "for". It's more appropriate to use "foretell" directly followed by the object of prediction.

What verbs can I use instead of "foretell"?

Alternatives to "foretell" include "predict", "forecast", "foresee", and "anticipate". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "foretell" correctly in a sentence?

Use "foretell" directly followed by what is being predicted. For example, "The signs foretell a change in weather", rather than "The signs foretell for a change in weather".

In what contexts can I use the word "foretell"?

"Foretell" is appropriate in various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions about future events. However, ensure it's used without unnecessary prepositions like "for" to maintain grammatical correctness.