inclination to exist

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inclination to exist" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a tendency or preference for being or living, often in philosophical or existential contexts. Example: "His inclination to exist in a state of constant reflection often led him to question the meaning of life."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

SEP

The New York Times - Magazine

Encyclopedia Britannica

Vice

The New York Times

The Economist

The New Yorker

The Guardian - Tech

The Guardian - Opinion

Harvard Business Review

The New York Times - Arts

Independent

The Washington Post

HuffPost

BMC Psychiatry

BMJ Open

Environmental Health Perspectives

WikiHow

Solar Energy

BMC Family Practice

Earth, Planets and Space

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Science Magazine

Huffington Post

BMJ Open

Forbes

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

More generally, they show less inclination to exist in allotropic forms, and to catenate; and have a stronger ability to form hydrogen bonds.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

More generally they show a marked tendency to exist in allotropic forms, and a stronger inclination to catenate; and have a weaker ability to form hydrogen bonds.

Wikipedia

The intellective soul can exist without the body, but it is not created to exist without it, as it has, on the contrary, a natural inclination to be united with it.

SEP

Neither shows any inclination to be anything but himself.

The New York Times - Magazine

In early philosophies of psychology and metaphysics, conatus (; Latin for "effort; endeavor; impulse, inclination, tendency; undertaking; striving") is an innate inclination of a thing to continue to exist and enhance itself.

Wikipedia

The compact existed no longer, but Pompey as yet showed no inclination to break with Caesar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For many plaintiffs in suits involving the police, a tension exists between the need to take the settlement and the inclination to make a point.

The New York Times

He's trying to describe a division that has existed in dance music culture for decades, and which stems from connoisseurs' inclination to distinguish themselves from those who have more casual relationships to music in other words, the undiscerning masses.

Vice

Bluelight and Erowid have existed for years, and there are endless sub-Reddits for those who have the inclination to find them.

Vice

The police showed little inclination to try.

The Economist

Even Giacometti had an inclination to beguile.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing philosophical or existential concepts, using "inclination to exist" can add a nuanced layer to the idea of inherent drives or tendencies.

Common error

Avoid using "inclination to exist" in contexts where simpler phrases like "tendency to be" or "desire to live" would suffice. The phrase is best reserved for more complex or abstract discussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inclination to exist" functions as a noun phrase acting as the subject or object of a verb, often in philosophical or biological contexts. Ludwig AI highlights examples showing its use in discussions of inherent tendencies and drives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inclination to exist" is a relatively rare but grammatically correct construction that describes a tendency or drive toward continued being. As Ludwig AI points out, it's often used in philosophical, scientific, and abstract contexts. While simpler alternatives like "tendency to be" or "desire to live" might suffice in some situations, "inclination to exist" adds a layer of complexity that can be useful in nuanced discussions. It's best to avoid overuse in simpler contexts and reserve it for situations where the inherent nature of existence is being explored.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tendency to exist

Replaces "inclination" with "tendency", indicating a propensity or likelihood rather than a leaning.

predisposition to exist

Uses "predisposition" to suggest a pre-existing state or condition that favors existence.

inherent drive to exist

Emphasizes the innate or intrinsic nature of the desire to continue living or being.

natural bent toward existence

Replaces "inclination" with "bent", suggesting a natural leaning or direction towards being.

propensity for existence

Uses "propensity" to indicate a natural inclination or tendency to exist.

leaning toward existence

Substitutes "inclination" with "leaning", portraying a slight preference or tendency.

desire to be

Simplifies the phrase to a more basic expression of wanting to exist.

urge to survive

Focuses on the survival aspect, highlighting the instinctual drive to continue existing.

inherent will to live

Highlights the intrinsic motivation and determination to maintain existence.

tendency to be real

Focuses on the aspect of existence as being real or actual.

FAQs

How can I use "inclination to exist" in a sentence?

You might say, "The organism displayed a strong "inclination to exist" even under harsh conditions", to describe its survival drive.

What's a simpler way to say "inclination to exist"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "tendency to be", "desire to live", or "drive to survive".

Is "inclination to exist" a common phrase?

No, "inclination to exist" is not a very common phrase. It's more frequently found in philosophical or academic writings than in everyday conversation.

What is the difference between "inclination to exist" and "will to live"?

"Inclination to exist" suggests a natural tendency or leaning, while "will to live" implies a stronger, more conscious determination to survive.