gain affection

USAGE SUMMARY

"gain affection" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a person or a thing gaining affection from someone or something else. For example: "The puppy gained the affection of its new owner quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Fashion and Textiles

Huffington Post

The New York Times

Independent

WikiHow

HuffPost

Forbes

Wiki

The Washington Post

The Guardian

The New York Times - Books

The New York Times - Arts

Vice

BBC

Stanford University

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Women indicated the woman dressed that way to gain affection.

Fashion and Textiles

Do we really need to sell ourselves on the auction block in order to gain affection?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Did you gain some affection for home repair by the end?

The New York Times

But he was also very distant, and I had to work very hard in order to gain his affection.

Independent

Sean McNall makes a dashing Captain Absolute, who is posing as a mere ensign to gain the affection of Lydia Languish.

The New York Times

Personally abrasive, Davis did not seek (or gain) the affection of his fellow owners.

Huffington Post

Do you want to teach your kids to use money to win another person over, gain their affection or to avoid thinking excessively about someone they care about?

HuffPost

Of course, it's not a bad strategy to have a bold-faced name remake a previously successful project, and it's a smart idea to gain the affection of TV fans who love cult comedies.

Huffington Post

Be kind to all the students and gain their affection.

WikiHow

Note that Eevee can't learn any Fairy-type moves from TMs. Gain two affection hearts from Eevee in Pokémon-Aime Pokémon-Aime

WikiHow

Yet, if the pickup format keeps gaining customer affection, Walmart could be especially well-suited to ride the wave.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the specific nuance you want to convey: "earn affection" emphasizes effort, while "attract affection" focuses on inherent qualities that draw people in.

Common error

Avoid confusing "affection", a feeling of fondness, with "effect", a result or influence. For example, instead of "to gain a positive effect", use "to gain affection".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gain affection" functions as a verb phrase. It typically acts as the predicate of a sentence, describing the action of acquiring fondness or love. As shown in Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gain affection" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe acquiring someone's fondness or love. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate in a variety of contexts. While "earn affection" implies effort, "gain affection" is broader. When aiming for formal tone, consider alternatives such as "cultivate affection". Remember to differentiate "affection" from "effect" to avoid common errors. With a neutral register and frequent presence in news and media, using "gain affection" is a reliable choice in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earn affection

This alternative emphasizes the effort or merit involved in acquiring affection.

attract affection

This alternative focuses on drawing or pulling affection towards oneself.

win affection

This alternative suggests a competitive or strategic approach to gaining affection.

secure affection

This alternative implies a more certain or protected acquisition of affection.

capture affection

This alternative conveys a sense of seizing or taking hold of affection.

cultivate affection

This alternative suggests a gradual and nurturing process of developing affection.

develop affection

This alternative focuses on the gradual formation and growth of affection.

foster affection

This alternative emphasizes creating an environment where affection can grow.

inspire affection

This alternative focuses on causing or stimulating feelings of affection in others.

ingratiate oneself

This alternative refers to try to gain favour with somebody.

FAQs

How can I use "gain affection" in a sentence?

You can use "gain affection" to describe the process of acquiring someone's fondness or love, as in, "The puppy tried to "gain affection" from its new owner by wagging its tail".

What's a more formal alternative to "gain affection"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "cultivate affection" or "foster affection" to convey a more sophisticated tone.

Is it correct to say "gain affections" instead of "gain affection"?

While "affections" is a valid word, "gain affection" is generally preferred when referring to the act of acquiring fondness or love from someone. "Affections" is more commonly used to describe feelings or emotions in general.

What's the difference between "gain affection" and "earn affection"?

"Gain affection" is a broader term, while "earn affection" implies that the affection was acquired through specific actions or merit. You "earn affection" by doing something deserving of it.