is ask for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is ask for" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a misconstruction and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I need to ask for help with my project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

All I have done is ask for whom you speak.

Independent

"If you want the death penalty, all you have to do is ask for it".

The New York Times

All they've done is ask for money, for money, for money.

The New Yorker

All you do is ask for directions, and it updates the display.

The Guardian - Tech

The only thing they do not do is ask for permission.

The New York Times - Tech

NICOLE TORRES: Something Ella kept emphasizing is, ask for specific examples.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

[It] is asking for trouble.

Independent

Everybody is asking for more".

The New York Times - Science

"He is asking for curse".

The New Yorker

"He is asking for it," I whisper.

The New Yorker

"The church is asking for something new.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "is ask for" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "is requesting" or "is asking for" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Common error

A common error is using "is ask for" when the intended meaning requires "is asking for". Ensure the verb tense is correct to avoid grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is ask for" functions as an incorrect verb phrase. Grammatically, it is flawed; the auxiliary verb 'is' requires a present participle (asking) to form the present continuous tense. Ludwig AI flags this as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

23%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is ask for" is grammatically incorrect, despite its common occurrence across various sources. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form should be "is asking for" or alternative phrases like "is requesting" or "is seeking". Its frequent use in informal contexts, such as news articles and wiki entries, doesn't validate its correctness. It's essential to use grammatically sound alternatives in formal and professional writing to maintain clarity and credibility. While "is ask for" attempts to convey an action of requesting, its flawed structure diminishes its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is requesting

Replaces 'ask' with 'requesting', providing a more formal and grammatically correct alternative.

is seeking

Substitutes 'ask' with 'seeking', implying a more active and intentional search.

is in search of

Replaces the whole phrase with a more descriptive alternative indicating a search.

is petitioning for

Uses 'petitioning' instead of 'asking', suggesting a more formal appeal.

is appealing for

Replaces 'ask' with 'appealing', which indicates a heartfelt request.

is inquiring about

Substitutes 'ask' with 'inquiring', suggesting a simple request for information.

is looking for

Replaces the phrase with a more common and direct way to express the need for something.

is applying for

Uses 'applying' instead of 'asking', implying a formal application process.

is demanding

Replaces 'asking' with 'demanding' suggests a more assertive and forceful request.

is soliciting

Uses 'soliciting' instead of 'asking', which implies a formal request for something like donations or support.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with "is ask for"?

The phrase "is ask for" is not grammatically correct. The correct form should be "is asking for", using the present continuous tense.

What can I say instead of "is ask for"?

Alternatives include "is requesting", "is seeking", or "is asking for". Choose the phrase that best fits the context of your sentence. For example, you might say "He "is asking for" help" instead of "He is ask for help".

How to correct "is ask for" in a sentence?

Replace "is ask for" with "is asking for" to correct the sentence. For example, change "She is ask for a raise" to "She "is asking for" a raise".

Is "is ask for" ever appropriate to use?

No, "is ask for" is generally not appropriate in standard English. It is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. Use "is requesting" or "is seeking" as alternative options.