growing curious about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "growing curious about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an increasing interest or curiosity regarding a particular subject or topic. Example: "As I read more about the universe, I found myself growing curious about black holes and their mysteries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At the same time, a finance journalist named Roddy Boyd was himself growing curious about Valeant.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Before long, Malcolm grows curious about crime.

The New York Times

I begin to grow curious about them.

The New Yorker

I then grew curious about how different forms of maltreatment communicate a sense of rejection.

Columbia University

But he grew curious about the world he was sheltered from and eventually went out to take a look.

The New York Times - Arts

But after graduating from college, he grew curious about the wider world of Cairo, where he moved to take an engineering job.

The New York Times - Magazine

She grows curious about Tatiana's red tent and, at one point, grows flirtatious enough to slip into a sundress that matches it.

The New York Times

As an education reporter covering New York City schools, I had grown curious about the test, which I had written about in my first year on the beat.

The New York Times

Mrs. Edison, whose parents and grandparents lived through the Cultural Revolution, said she grew curious about memorabilia from that era during a trip to China in the early 1990's.

The New York Times

It was only once I began to grow curious about what had happened to those boys in my father's neighborhood, and was inspired to write about it, that I started to learn about the Naxalite movement formally.

The New Yorker

As he became part of the downtown scene, he grew curious about some of the uptown parties he had heard about from people like Fred Brathwaite, who would later gain fame as the host of "Yo! MTV Raps" in 1988.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "growing curious about" to indicate a gradual increase in interest or inquisitiveness, often stemming from new information or experiences. For example, "After reading several articles, she was "growing curious about" the topic".

Common error

While acceptable, "growing curious about" can sometimes sound less formal. In academic or professional writing, consider alternatives like "developing an interest in" or "becoming increasingly interested in" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "growing curious about" functions as a verb phrase indicating a progressive action of becoming interested or inquisitive in a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage and provides numerous examples where individuals develop a sense of inquiry.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

33%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "growing curious about" effectively conveys a gradual increase in interest or inquisitiveness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider the formality of the setting and select alternatives like "developing an interest in" for more formal tones. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, making it suitable for diverse writing styles. By understanding its nuances, writers can leverage "growing curious about" to express developing interest with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

developing a curiosity about

Directly replaces interest with curiosity, focusing on a desire to learn.

becoming inquisitive about

Replaces "curious" with "inquisitive", focusing on the questioning nature of the interest.

becoming interested in

Focuses on the development of interest, omitting the explicit curiosity aspect.

developing an interest in

Highlights the development of interest as a gradual process.

getting interested in

More informal, suggesting a casual onset of interest.

taking an interest in

Emphasizes actively choosing to be interested.

showing an increasing interest in

Highlights that the interest is intensifying over time.

starting to wonder about

Suggests a more passive form of curiosity, driven by pondering.

beginning to explore

Emphasizes the investigative aspect of growing curious.

finding oneself drawn to

Suggests a passive, almost magnetic attraction to a subject.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "growing curious about" to sound more formal?

For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "developing an interest in", "becoming increasingly interested in", or "cultivating a curiosity for".

What's the difference between "growing curious about" and "becoming curious about"?

"Growing curious about" implies a gradual increase in curiosity over time, while "becoming curious about" simply indicates a change in state to being curious, without necessarily emphasizing the gradual nature of the change.

Is it appropriate to use "growing curious about" in academic writing?

Yes, "growing curious about" is appropriate, but consider the tone and audience. For a more formal tone, you might opt for alternatives like "developing a curiosity about" or "cultivating an interest in".

Can I use "growing curious about" to describe a sudden interest?

While "growing" suggests a gradual process, the phrase can still be used if the interest develops relatively quickly. However, for a truly sudden interest, consider alternatives like "suddenly became curious about" or "instantly developed an interest in".