going on hunger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going on hunger" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to refer to the act of abstaining from food, typically in the context of a protest or personal choice. Example: "He decided to go on hunger strike to raise awareness for the cause he believed in."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

She acted as his link to the outside world as he kept up his agitation from his prison cell, running for election and at one stage going on hunger strike.

Independent

He was just there, going on hunger strikes, one of the prisoners whose detention seemed to serve principally as a justification for Guantánamo rather than as a route to justice — including justice for the victims of 9/11, who deserve better than that sort of legal farce.

The New Yorker

In a video from Ramo Verde prison where he is being held, Lopez, 44, said he and another jailed politician – a former San Cristobal mayor, Daniel Ceballos – were going on hunger strike "with one concrete petition: freedom of political prisoners".

The Guardian

The sandstorm comes at a critical time when thousands of Lebanese have been demonstrating, going on hunger strike - at one point occupying a government ministry before being forced out - and clashing with authorities to protest a dysfunctional state that has failed them.

Huffington Post

He added "I think it's interesting that the Taliban were the first to report about [the hunger strike]." Throughout our trip, press officers told me and the other reporters present that no one suffers negative repercussions for going on hunger strike, but Captain Durand said that detainees won't go back to communal living until they eat on their own.

Vice

Throughout our trip, press officers told me and the other reporters present that no one suffers negative repercussions for going on hunger strike, but Captain Durand said that detainees won't go back to communal living until they eat on their own.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

However, one of his first acts of sedition was to go on hunger strike.

Forbes

One was to go on hunger strike.

The Economist

And then they went on hunger strike.

The New York Times

She has now gone on hunger strike.

The Economist

She went on hunger strike in April.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct and idiomatic phrase "going on a hunger strike" instead of "going on hunger". This ensures clarity and avoids misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid omitting the article "a" and the noun "strike". Saying "going on hunger" is grammatically incorrect and sounds awkward. The correct form, "going on a hunger strike", is widely understood and accepted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going on hunger" functions as an incorrect attempt to describe the act of initiating a hunger strike. While frequently used, especially in News & Media, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically non-standard and should be corrected to "going on a hunger strike".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "going on hunger" is frequently encountered, particularly within news media, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests the correct and widely accepted phrase is "going on a hunger strike". This ensures clarity and avoids potential misinterpretations. Although the intent behind "going on hunger" is generally understood, sticking to the proper phrasing enhances professionalism and precision in both formal and informal communication. Alternative expressions, such as "embarking on a hunger strike", offer stylistic variations while maintaining grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going on a hunger strike

Addition of the article 'a' and noun 'strike' makes the phrase grammatically correct and idiomatic.

embarking on a hunger strike

Replaces "going" with "embarking", suggesting a more formal and deliberate commencement of a hunger strike.

starting a hunger strike

Substitutes "going" with "starting", indicating the beginning of a hunger strike.

commencing a hunger strike

Uses "commencing" instead of "going", conveying a more formal initiation of the action.

undertaking a hunger strike

Replaces "going" with "undertaking", suggesting a more serious and committed engagement in the hunger strike.

observing a hunger strike

Emphasizes the act of adhering to the hunger strike, focusing on the duration and commitment.

initiating a hunger strike

Highlights the beginning of the hunger strike with a formal tone.

beginning a hunger strike

Similar to "starting", but can imply a more organized or announced beginning.

engaging in a hunger strike

Focuses on the act of actively participating in a hunger strike.

participating in a hunger strike

Highlights the involvement in a collective or individual hunger strike effort.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "going on hunger"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct and idiomatic phrase is "going on a hunger strike".

What's the difference between "going on hunger" and "going on a hunger strike"?

"Going on hunger" is grammatically incorrect. "Going on a hunger strike" is the correct and commonly used phrase to describe abstaining from food as a form of protest or personal choice.

Are there alternatives to "going on a hunger strike"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "embarking on a hunger strike" or "starting a hunger strike", depending on the context.

How should I use the phrase "going on a hunger strike" in a sentence?

Example: "The political prisoner announced he was "going on a hunger strike" to protest his unjust imprisonment."