in reluctance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in reluctance" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
You might be trying to express a feeling of unwillingness or hesitation, but the phrase does not convey that meaning effectively. Example: "She accepted the invitation in reluctance, feeling she had no other choice."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The change in reluctance is then translated into an electrical signal.

Britannica

"This may also result in reluctance on the part of the financial institutions to extend financing for energy efficiency improvements".

The New York Times

She found that a community's resistance to change is often a factor in reluctance to realize the scale of the problem, a situation that perpetuates a cycle of addiction.

The Guardian

These findings have potentially resulted in reluctance by surgeons to prescribe postprocedural topical neomycin and/or combination ointments containing this agent.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

Harassment results in reluctance of families to send their daughters, mothers and wives to a workplace and outside their own home.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

She awakened in me something that was sleeping still; in fear, in laziness, in reluctance to actually embodying my imperfect body, in resistance to taking up as much space in this lifetime as I was here to take up.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

At the base level, dumps, disposal drain lines, and other environmental nightmares were often designed or sanctioned by the facility engineers, and there is a built-in reluctance to identify environmental problems created by the same office now charged with cleaning up the mess.

Cleanup of Chemical and Explosive Munitions Locating, Identifying Contaminants, and Planning for Environmental Remediation of Land and Sea Military Ranges and Ordnance Dumpsites

Negroponte deputy Dale Meyerrose, a retired Air Force major general and expert in creating and integrating communications systems architecture, is charged with breaking down the technological barriers among what he calls intelligence "tribes" with a built-in reluctance to divulge their secrets.

The Washington Post

We're possessed of a built-in reluctance to accept the rotten substance behind the shiny surface of institutional brands.

Huffington Post

His breathing's not regular: he breathes in with reluctance; he doesn't want to commit himself to being alive.

The New Yorker

And it must surely have been at least one more contributory factor in his reluctance to dabble in the human fossil record.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the phrase "with reluctance" instead of "in reluctance" for correct grammar and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "in" before "reluctance". The correct preposition is "with" or "out of". For example, say "She agreed with reluctance" not "She agreed in reluctance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in reluctance" functions incorrectly as a prepositional phrase. It attempts to modify a verb or noun by indicating the manner or cause of an action, but this usage is not grammatically sound and lacks support according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in reluctance" is identified by Ludwig as grammatically incorrect. The correct and commonly accepted phrase is "with reluctance" or "out of reluctance", depending on the intended meaning. "With reluctance" describes the manner of doing something, while "out of reluctance" explains the motivation. It's important to avoid "in reluctance" in all forms of writing to maintain grammatical accuracy. Always opt for "with reluctance" or a suitable alternative like "hesitantly" or "unwillingly" to clearly express unwillingness or hesitation. Because Ludwig does not find instances of correct usage, it is best to avoid the phrase altogether.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with reluctance

Replaces the preposition "in" with "with", which is the standard and grammatically correct usage.

out of reluctance

Uses the preposition "out of" to indicate that reluctance is the motivating factor.

hesitantly

An adverb that describes doing something with hesitation.

unwillingly

An adverb expressing a lack of willingness.

grudgingly

An adverb describing something done with resentment or unwillingness.

with hesitation

Emphasizes the pause or delay caused by reluctance.

feeling reluctant

Expresses the state of experiencing reluctance.

displaying reluctance

Highlights the observable signs of reluctance.

showing reluctance

Similar to "displaying reluctance", but slightly more general.

experiencing reluctance

Focuses on the internal feeling of reluctance.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "in reluctance"?

No, the grammatically correct phrase is "with reluctance" or "out of reluctance". The preposition "in" is not typically used with "reluctance" to express unwillingness or hesitation.

What is the difference between "with reluctance" and "out of reluctance"?

"With reluctance" generally describes the manner in which something is done, whereas "out of reluctance" describes the motivation behind an action. For example, "She agreed "with reluctance"" suggests she was hesitant, while "She agreed "out of reluctance"" suggests she only agreed because she felt obligated.

How can I use "with reluctance" in a sentence?

You can use "with reluctance" to describe how someone performs an action. For example: "He accepted the task "with reluctance", knowing it would take up much of his time."

What are some alternatives to saying "with reluctance"?

Some alternatives include "hesitantly", "unwillingly", or "grudgingly". The best alternative depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.