helpfulness

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "helpfulness" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who willingly offers assistance or to indicate how someone is behaving in a helpful manner. For example, "I was so impressed by the helpfulness of the volunteers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With the cameras still rolling, Carell reset and made Barry's helpfulness even less helpful: "She was talking to a manatee".

The New Yorker

How do you respond to colleagues who complain about your helpfulness or criticize you for being helpful?

The New York Times

They gave the people on the ground the latitude and authority to help, which coupled with their enthusiasm and helpfulness made for a great experience.

The Guardian - Sport

The site also asks users to rate the helpfulness of the response they get as either "helpful," "too long," "confusing" or "incorrect".

The New York Times

Ms. Rogers was attracted by his penchant for unbridled generosity and helpfulness: he ghostwrote love letters home for soldiers during the war, offered his help to hearing-aid users and visited residents of nursing homes.

The New York Times

Gone are the days when all you needed was a winning smile, helpfulness and the ability to operate a low-tech till to satisfy customer needs.

The Guardian

"Waterboarding is far from torture," explained an army pilot named Benjamin, all helpfulness.

The Guardian - Opinion

If a big if American toughness and European helpfulness can be combined, the two might get the best of both worlds.

The Economist

Western officials have been quick to talk up China's alleged helpfulness: in persuading North Korea at least to talk about disarming; in cajoling the generals running Myanmar into letting in the odd envoy from the United Nations; in trying to coax the government of Sudan away from a policy of genocide.

The Economist

Yet for many Irish, Britain's helpfulness contrasted favourably with the stance adopted by some of Ireland's euro-zone partners in pressing Ireland to accept a bail-out and to raise its corporate-tax rate.

The Economist

M. Sak Hen, the UNLF's publicity officer, a paragon of helpfulness and charm.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "helpfulness" to describe a person's disposition or quality, emphasizing their willingness to assist others. For example, "His "helpfulness" made him a valuable team member."

Common error

Avoid using "helpfulness" when simply referring to the act of providing assistance. "Help" can be more direct in certain contexts. For example, say "I appreciate your help" rather than "I appreciate your "helpfulness"" if you just want to express thanks for assistance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "helpfulness" is as a noun. It denotes the quality or state of being helpful, referring to the characteristic of offering or providing assistance. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "helpfulness" is a commonly used noun that describes the quality of being helpful or willing to assist others. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts, ranging from news reports and encyclopedias to everyday conversations. It emphasizes the positive attribute of providing assistance, and while related to "kindness" or "support", it specifically refers to the act of helping. Remember to use "helpfulness" when referring to a quality or disposition, and reserve "help" for the action itself. The abundance of examples available in Ludwig demonstrates the versatility and widespread application of this term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assistance

Refers to the act of helping or providing aid.

aid

Highlights the act of giving assistance or support.

supportiveness

Emphasizes providing emotional or practical support.

benevolence

Highlights the act of kindness and generosity.

serviceability

Focuses on the quality of being useful or functional.

accommodation

Focuses on adjusting to provide what is needed.

cooperation

Emphasizes working together to achieve a common goal.

good samaritanism

Highlights selfless acts of kindness and support.

charitability

Highlights the act of giving aid to those in need.

public service

Focuses on serving the community or the public good.

FAQs

How to use "helpfulness" in a sentence?

You can use "helpfulness" to describe the quality of being helpful. For example, "The staff's "helpfulness" was greatly appreciated by the customers."

What can I say instead of "helpfulness"?

You can use alternatives like "assistance", "support", or "service" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "helpfulness" or "being helpful"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different uses. "Helpfulness" is a noun that describes a quality, while "being helpful" is a verb phrase that describes an action or behavior.

What's the difference between "helpfulness" and "kindness"?

"Helpfulness" refers specifically to the act of providing assistance, while "kindness" encompasses a broader range of positive and caring behaviors.