garner favor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "garner favor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to gain approval, support, or goodwill from others. Example: "The politician worked hard to garner favor with the voters by addressing their concerns and needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Mr. Brown presents himself as bipartisan — presumably as a way to garner favor with Massachusetts voters.

The New York Times

Corporations investigate themselves for a host of reasons – to comply with laws and regulations, to garner favor from prosecutors and enforcement agencies, or to demonstrate "good corporate governance" to the company's various constituents, including its shareholders, consumers, and employees.

Columbia University

Some said he wanted to cause political trouble for his critics, forcing Senate leaders either to accept his appointee or to be seen as rejecting a respected African-American leader, while others said that he was trying to garner favor among blacks, and perhaps even members of an eventual jury pool.

The New York Times

Perhaps this was an attempt to garner favor with the U.S., but regardless, it has caused a drop in oil prices across the board.

Forbes

Even if they fail to garner favor with critics and come up empty on the awards circuit, chances are high that Butler will never find himself needing to fight for a seat at the table.

Vice

But a report by a consultant to WHO found that ILSI was infiltrating WHO and FAO with scientists, money and research to garner favor for industry products and strategies.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Garner favors a version of animal rights that focuses on eliminating animal suffering and adopts a protectionist approach, maintaining that although the traditional animal-welfare ethic is philosophically flawed, it can contribute strategically to the achievement of animal-rights ends.

Columbia University

He has highlighted his role in fighting terrorists, garnering favor among parts of the American military and intelligence agencies.

The New York Times

Further, Jackson is a black man who, uniquely, saw his name establish enough clout to garner political favor for his family, and he eventually saw that favor ensnare his family in scandal.

HuffPost

Many cities already suspend sales taxes for a few days a year on items such as clothing and school supplies, usually to garner the favor of overtaxed parents struggling to raise kids and to give mom and pop an incentive to frequent overtaxed downtown enterprises struggling to make profits.

Forbes

The manager did so to garner their favor, so that when he is out of work, they might look kindly on him.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "garner favor", consider the audience and context to ensure your approach doesn't come across as manipulative. Focus on genuinely addressing needs and building trust.

Common error

Avoid using "garner favor" repeatedly in formal documents or presentations. Vary your language with synonyms like "gain support" or "win approval" to maintain a sophisticated tone and prevent redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "garner favor" functions as a verb phrase, where "garner" is a transitive verb meaning to collect or gather, and "favor" acts as the object, representing approval or goodwill. It indicates an active effort to obtain something desirable from others. Ludwig confirms the correct usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "garner favor" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that signifies the act of gaining approval or support. As indicated by Ludwig, it is employed across various contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent and generally well-regarded. When aiming to "garner favor", it is advisable to ensure sincerity and avoid manipulative approaches. Alternatives such as ""gain support"" or ""win approval"" can be used to diversify writing and avoid redundancy. The phrase's neutrality makes it suitable for formal communications, though cautious application is advised to avoid conveying insincerity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

win approval

Focuses on the act of gaining approval, omitting the aspect of goodwill.

gain support

Emphasizes acquiring support, potentially overlooking the aspect of building goodwill.

curry favor

Implies seeking favor through flattery or insincere actions.

ingratiate oneself

Highlights the act of making oneself agreeable to gain favor.

seek approval

Focuses solely on the act of searching for approval, rather than obtaining it.

court popularity

Highlights the attempt to gain widespread popularity, which is a specific type of favor.

attract support

Focuses on drawing support rather than actively working to gain it.

solicit approval

Implies formally requesting or asking for approval.

cultivate goodwill

Stresses the development of positive relationships and favorable sentiment over time.

secure endorsement

Highlights obtaining formal approval or backing.

FAQs

What does "garner favor" mean?

"Garner favor" means to gain approval, acceptance, or support from someone. It implies an effort to be liked or well-regarded.

How can I use "garner favor" in a sentence?

You can use "garner favor" to describe actions taken to obtain support or approval, such as "The politician worked hard to "gain support" from the voters" or "The company tried to "win approval" for its new product".

What are some alternatives to "garner favor"?

Alternatives to "garner favor" include phrases like ""win approval"", ""gain support"", "curry favor" (though this has a slightly negative connotation), or "ingratiate oneself".

Is it better to say "garner favor" or "garner support"?

Both "garner favor" and "garner support" are correct. The choice depends on the specific context. "Garner favor" is broader, encompassing general approval or goodwill, while "garner support" specifically refers to gaining backing for a cause or proposal.