intangible support

USAGE SUMMARY

"intangible support" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to forms of aid or assistance that may not be physical or tangible. For example, you might say, "I am so grateful for the intangible support I have received from my friends during this difficult time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Emotional support, on the other hand, represents intangible support such as spending time together and listening to concerns.

Ageing and Society

Prior researchers have shown that gender influences the severity of social anxiety, willingness to disclose personal information, and appreciation of intangible support given by other people (e.g., Turk et al., 1998).

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This research used the Inventory of Social Supportive Behaviours (ISSB) (a measure of tangible and intangible social support received during the preceding month) and found that women who perceived less emotional support were more likely to be regular crack-cocaine users, while those women who indicated higher emotional support were less likely to be crack-cocaine users.

Health & Justice

This study used two instruments which capture social capital: the Inventory of Social Supportive Behaviours (ISSB) (a measure of tangible and intangible social support received during the preceding month) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSE) (a measure of an individual's agency) (Hart 1995).

Health & Justice

Stephan and Stride (2015) find that government activism, by providing tangible and intangible resource support for social entrepreneurs can enhance social entrepreneurship (Zahra and Wright 2011).

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

But foster youth also need something intangible: the emotional support of a caring adult, said Steve Walsh, director of the Educational Opportunity Program at California State University at Bakersfield, an intensive support program for foster youth and low-income, first generation college students.

HuffPost

Also, the older lay health workers may have been more skilled in maintaining caring relationships and providing the other intangible forms of support [ 34] that are important to patients [ 35].

BMC Health Services Research

It should be noted that Infostrada's numbers make no attempt to account for intangibles like crowd support or momentum that can build within a team when things start to go well (or badly).

The New York Times - Sports

These moments of support are intangible and almost impossible to measure, but they make an enormous difference to my day.

The Guardian

The team should also consider whether the product offers additional tangible advantages such as lifetime cost savings, greater safety, higher quality, and lower maintenance or support needs or intangible benefits, such as greater social acceptability (think of hybrid cars and synthetic-fur coats) and the promise of reduced risk that is implicit in a trusted brand name.

Harvard Business Review

It has been illustrated that these approaches may align with elements of staff values, motivation and commitment to professional learning and development, complimenting rationalised measurement systems to support the intangible and tacit dimensions of quality.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intangible support", ensure the context clearly defines what specific non-physical aspects constitute the support, such as emotional encouragement or moral guidance.

Common error

Avoid using "intangible support" without specifying the nature of the support. Saying someone received "intangible support" is less impactful than specifying they received emotional or psychological support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intangible support" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It denotes aid or assistance that isn't physical or concrete, focusing on emotional, psychological, or moral elements. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intangible support" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe non-physical forms of assistance, such as emotional encouragement or moral guidance. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is valid and understandable across various contexts as indicated by Ludwig. It’s important to specify the nature of the "intangible support" to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "emotional assistance" or "psychological reinforcement" can be used for increased precision. The phrase finds relevance in areas such as psychology, social work, and discussions surrounding general well-being.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Emotional assistance

Focuses specifically on the emotional aspect of support, omitting the broader implications of "intangible".

Immaterial aid

Replaces "support" with "aid" and "intangible" with "immaterial", emphasizing the non-physical nature of the help.

Non-physical backing

Highlights the absence of physical elements in the form of support.

Psychological reinforcement

Emphasizes the psychological aspect of providing support.

Spiritual encouragement

Shifts the focus to the spiritual or moral aspect of support.

Moral boost

This phrase captures the intangible aspect of providing encouragement to improve someone's morale.

Inherent advocacy

Focuses on the inherent or intrinsic nature of advocacy.

Tacit assistance

Highlights the unspoken or implied nature of the support.

Abstract sustenance

Uses "sustenance" to suggest a form of support that is essential but not concrete.

Amorphous succor

Emphasizes the vague or undefined quality of the support provided.

FAQs

How can I use "intangible support" in a sentence?

You can use "intangible support" to describe non-physical assistance, such as emotional encouragement or moral guidance. For example, "The community offered significant "intangible support" to the family after their loss".

What are some alternatives to "intangible support"?

Some alternatives include "emotional assistance", "immaterial aid", or "psychological reinforcement" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "intangible support" and "tangible support"?

"Intangible support" refers to non-physical forms of assistance, like encouragement or advice, whereas "tangible support" involves physical or material aid, such as financial help or goods.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the term "intangible support"?

The term is appropriate when discussing the non-physical benefits or assistance someone receives, particularly when those benefits contribute to their well-being, success, or recovery. For example, emotional support during a difficult time, mentorship, or encouragement.