leaning left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leaning left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a political inclination or bias towards leftist ideologies or policies. Example: "The article presents a perspective that is clearly leaning left, favoring progressive solutions to social issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Between 1990 and 2010, American university faculties went from leaning left to being almost entirely on the left, especially in the humanities and social sciences.

The Guardian - Opinion

During moments when not a great deal is happening musically – and there are quite a few – he performs the mating dance of the white British middle-class male, leaning left a bit and raising his right foot, then leaning right and raising his left.

The Guardian - Music

Washington is heavily Democratic, leaning left especially on social issues.

The New York Times

Two are rival Islamists, one leaning left and the other right.

The New York Times

The economist George Loewenstein, of Carnegie Mellon, has said that anyone studying happiness was bound to end up leaning left.

The New Yorker

I guess it's a push, if leaning left on bond issues and right on war balances out.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

On Sunday, there was no word which way Lee was leaning, leaving both teams in suspense and leading some people in baseball to speculate that Lee and his agent, Darek Braunecker, were stalling in the hope of getting more money from the Rangers.

The New York Times - Sports

If you are unaccustomed to riding two wheeled vehicles, you may need to re-familiarize yourself with turning while leaning: Lean left when you turn left and vice versa.

WikiHow

And although opponents in the Celtic nations, such as Alex Salmond, Scotland's nationalist first minister, will trash the Tories and the Liberal Democrats as brutal ogres, English voters will not be listening.On recent evidence, the opponents Mr Osborne should most fear are those who are hard to paint as part of a broad Labour-leaning left that had it good for a decade.

The Economist

Now not only are non-Cuban Hispanics growing in the electorate, but the Cuban population is increasingly divided along generational lines, with younger voters leaning heavily left.

The New York Times - Magazine

In the current political atmosphere, some Ivy League institutions are leaning more left than others.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing political entities or media outlets, ensure the context supports the claim that they are "leaning left". Provide evidence or examples to substantiate the assessment.

Common error

Avoid broadly labeling individuals or groups as "leaning left" without specific justification. Recognize that political ideologies are complex and multifaceted, and that this expression represents general tendency, not a precise category.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaning left" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to describe a tendency or inclination towards leftist political ideologies or policies. As shown by Ludwig, it's commonly used to characterize the political alignment of individuals, groups, or institutions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

10%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leaning left" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a tendency towards leftist political views. As noted by Ludwig AI, it functions as a verb phrase and appears frequently in news and media contexts. While the phrase is generally considered neutral, its formality can shift depending on the source. To ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization, it's important to provide specific evidence to support claims that a subject is "leaning left". Consider using alternatives like "tilting leftward" or "favoring leftist views" to fine-tune the meaning based on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left-leaning

A hyphenated adjective form of the original phrase, suitable for describing an entity.

tilting leftward

Emphasizes the direction of the lean more explicitly.

inclining to the left

More formal and emphasizes a gradual tendency.

shifting to the left

Indicates a change or movement towards leftist positions.

favoring leftist views

Focuses on the alignment with specific viewpoints rather than a general political direction.

sympathetic to the left

Highlights an emotional or ideological connection.

tending towards leftism

Emphasizes a long-term trend or trajectory.

showing a left bias

Highlights the presence of a perceived bias or inclination.

politically left-of-center

Positions the subject relative to the center of the political spectrum.

espousing progressive ideals

Focuses on the adoption and promotion of specific progressive values.

FAQs

How can I use "leaning left" in a sentence?

You can use "leaning left" to describe political views or affiliations. For instance, "The newspaper has a reputation for "leaning left" on social issues".

What's the difference between "leaning left" and "left-leaning"?

"Leaning left" is a verb phrase, while "left-leaning" is an adjective. You might say "the party is leaning left", or "the party is left-leaning".

Which is more appropriate, "leaning left" or "tilting left"?

Both "leaning left" and "tilting left" can describe a political orientation. "Leaning" suggests a general inclination, while "tilting" might imply a more recent shift.

What are some alternative ways to say "leaning left"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "favoring leftist views", "sympathetic to the left", or "tending towards leftism".