help

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'help' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb when you need assistance, as a noun when referring to something that will aid you, or as an interjection to express that you need aid. Example sentence: Can you help me with this math homework?.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Every day, mosques and other faith institutions across the country are providing help for those in need, and acting as a centre for our communities.

The Guardian

"We will do everything, I repeat, everything to help bring this perpetrator to justice".

The Guardian

He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for 'up!', found me and a lazy dog blocking his way.

The Guardian

It didn't help.

The New York Times

It seemed to help.

The New York Times

How does this help?

Forbes

A campaign has sprung up to help the promising young runner.

The Guardian

2. To help us to monitor and improve the services we offer 3. To sell advertising space on the site.

The Guardian

"Our energy market reforms are about making the market more competitive, but also recognising that not just consumers but also businesses have been paying too much for their bills, and we're introducing a temporary price freeze to help consumers.

The Guardian - Money

Other EU countries have responded to the call for help with two fixed-wing aircraft and three patrol vessels.

The Guardian

Whichever view you take, multicultural and tolerant or disapproving and fearful, the awkward fact is that we have not been breeding fast enough (or young enough) to keep society functioning without outside help, let alone educating ourselves to the levels a post-industrial economy is going to need.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional settings, offering "help" proactively can demonstrate initiative and teamwork.

Common error

Avoid simply stating you want to "help" without outlining concrete steps you will take. Vague offers of assistance are less effective than specific, actionable plans.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "help" is as a verb, indicating the act of providing assistance or support. It can also function as a noun, referring to the assistance itself. As Ludwig AI confirms, this word is frequently used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "help" is a versatile term with a wide range of applications, functioning both as a verb and a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. Analysis of example sentences reveals that it appears most commonly in news and media contexts, signifying requests for or offers of assistance. When using "help", consider specifying the type of assistance needed and avoiding vague offers. Alternatives such as "provide assistance", "lend a hand", and "offer support" can add nuance to your writing. Remembering these points will "help" you use the term effectively in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide assistance

More formal and emphasizes the act of giving aid.

lend a hand

Informal and suggests a willingness to assist with a task.

offer support

Focuses on providing emotional or practical backing.

give aid

Emphasizes the provision of resources or assistance in a crisis.

come to the rescue

Implies intervention in a dangerous or difficult situation.

be of service

Formal and suggests a professional or dutiful offering of assistance.

give a boost

Suggests providing encouragement or a small amount of assistance.

make a contribution

Focuses on the positive impact of the assistance provided.

be beneficial

Highlights the positive outcome or advantage resulting from the assistance.

alleviate

Implies reducing suffering or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "help" in a sentence?

You can use "help" as a verb, such as "Can you help me with this project?", or as a noun, such as "I need some help with my taxes."

What are some alternative ways to say "help"?

You can use alternatives like "provide assistance", "lend a hand", or "offer support" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "help me to do" or "help me do"?

Both "help me to do" and "help me do" are grammatically correct, but "help me do" is more common in modern English.

What's the difference between "help" and "aid"?

"Help" is a more general term for assistance, while "aid" often implies assistance given in a more formal or organized way, especially to countries or people in need.