grooming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "grooming" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the activity of cleaning, caring for, and maintaining the appearance of animals and humans. For example, you could say, "The vet recommends a regular grooming schedule for your dog."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Our new communications data legislation will strengthen our ability to disrupt terrorist plots, criminal networks and organised child grooming gangs, even as technology develops.

The Guardian

She has just finished filming a one-hour special for ITV called Joan Does Glamour, in which she uses her "knowledge of beauty, grooming, glamour and style to help three women get ready for particular events".

The Guardian

Ringland also admitted six charges of unlawful intercourse with a child and one of internet grooming.

The Guardian - Tech

Every day is hard enough, then you receive a piece of information like this – that it was on the system and easily accessible and it wasn't even attempted to find out whether this person was safe or not, after I had given details of his name, his age, the county where he lived and all of the grooming techniques he was using on Breck and the other boys.

The Guardian

"I could see that Daynes was completely controlling and grooming him, so I called the police and spent 30 minutes speaking about my concerns and told them Daynes's name and alias he used and I gave where he had lived and where he said he lived.

The Guardian

The former chief constable of South Yorkshire police who told a parliamentary committee he was ignorant of child grooming in Rotherham has resigned from his directorship at a top children's hospital.

The Guardian

The SDLP will now begin a long process of building grassroots support and of grooming a new generation of leaders.

The Guardian

Grooming: Mira H at facepro.co.uk, using Kiehl's Since 1851.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Gautam Adani, the ports-and-power mogul, says of his eldest son: "For ten years he will go through the entire firm…we are grooming him .The vulnerability this creates is twofold.

The Economist

As they report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they videotaped the animals' behaviour for several hundred hours over the course of 16 months in order to record three things: facial and vocal expressions, hand and foot gestures, and the behavioural context in which these expressions and gestures took place (eg, grooming, play, sex and aggression).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Scratching and self-grooming are well known to be related to anxiety.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the context when using "grooming", as it can also refer to the manipulative actions of someone trying to build a relationship with a minor for sexual purposes. Ensure your writing makes the intended meaning clear.

Common error

Avoid using "grooming" casually in situations where it could be misconstrued as referring to the exploitation of minors. Choose alternative terms like "preparation" or "development" if the context is ambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The word "grooming" functions as both a noun, referring to the act of maintaining appearance or preparing someone, and a verb, describing the action of performing these tasks. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grooming" is a versatile term with multiple meanings, ranging from personal care to professional development and, critically, to harmful manipulation. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s essential to be mindful of the context to avoid misinterpretation. It's a very common word, appearing frequently in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. Be sure to use it carefully and select alternative phrases like "personal care", "training", or "preparation" when appropriate to ensure clarity and avoid unintended negative connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal care

Focuses specifically on the act of caring for one's body and appearance.

personal hygiene

Emphasizes the cleanliness aspect of grooming.

training

Refers to the act of teaching or preparing someone for a specific role or task.

coaching

Suggests a more guided and instructive approach to development.

mentoring

Highlights the act of guiding and supporting someone's professional growth.

preparation

Emphasizes readiness and anticipation for a future event or task.

cultivation

Implies the careful nurturing and development of something over time.

developing

Focuses on the ongoing process of improvement and growth.

prepping

An informal term for making ready or preparing.

beautification

Deals specifically with enhancing appearance, often cosmetically.

FAQs

How can I use "grooming" in a sentence?

You can use "grooming" to describe maintaining personal appearance, like "Daily "grooming" is essential for a professional look". It can also refer to preparing someone for a role, such as "The company is "grooming" her for a leadership position".

What's the difference between "grooming" and "training"?

"Grooming" often implies a broader preparation, including skills and appearance, while "training" focuses specifically on acquiring skills or knowledge for a particular task or role.

What are some synonyms for "grooming" when referring to personal appearance?

When referring to personal appearance, you can use synonyms like "personal care", "personal hygiene", or "self-care".

How can I avoid the negative connotation of "grooming"?

To avoid the negative connotation associated with child exploitation, ensure the context is clear and positive. Use alternative terms like "preparation" or "development" when referring to nurturing or training someone.