leaning towards

USAGE SUMMARY

"leaning towards" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to express a preference or inclination towards a particular option. For example, "I'm leaning towards taking the train instead of flying".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm leaning towards there's a penalty toward it.

Huffington Post

I'm leaning towards electric.

The New York Times

"I'm leaning towards Moore.

The New Yorker

I'm leaning towards Labour.

The Guardian

So I'm leaning towards him.

The New Yorker

I'm leaning towards the former".

The Guardian - Business

He is leaning towards Andrews.

The Guardian - Sport

But this year, he is leaning towards John McCain.

The Economist

I am probably slightly leaning towards Newbury.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'd probably be leaning towards Djokovic.

The Guardian - Sport

Hungary is leaning towards Endre Juhasz, a deputy foreign minister.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaning towards", ensure the context clearly indicates what options are being considered to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "leaning towards" when expressing a definitive decision or strong commitment. Reserve it for situations where uncertainty or consideration of alternatives still exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaning towards" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a tendency or inclination towards something. It expresses a state of mind where someone is favorably disposed to a particular option but hasn't made a final decision. Ludwig examples show usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leaning towards" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates a tentative preference or inclination. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its suitability for various contexts, particularly in news and media, academic writing, and scientific discourse. When writing, it's important to use this phrase to express a preliminary preference and avoid using it when a final decision has already been made. Remember that alternatives like "inclined toward" or "favoring" can also be considered depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inclined toward

Uses "inclined" instead of "leaning", suggesting a formal tone and stronger tendency.

tending toward

Implies a gradual movement or development in a particular direction.

predisposed to

Suggests a pre-existing preference or susceptibility.

favoring

Directly indicates a preference for one option over others.

partial to

Indicates a fondness or liking that influences a decision.

drawn to

Emphasizes the attraction or appeal of a particular option.

gravitating towards

Suggests a natural or unconscious movement towards something.

approaching

Highlights the process of moving closer to an idea or decision, rather than a static state of preference.

beginning to prefer

Emphasizes the initial stages of developing a preference.

developing a preference for

Highlights that the inclination is not yet a solid preference, but is taking shape.

FAQs

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

Use "leaning towards" to express a tentative preference or inclination. For example, "I'm "leaning towards" accepting the job offer", suggests you are likely to accept, but haven't fully committed yet.

What's a good substitute for "leaning towards"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "inclined toward", "tending toward", or "favoring" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "leaning to" instead of "leaning towards"?

While "leaning to" might be used informally, ""leaning towards"" is generally more grammatically correct and widely accepted in formal writing.

What's the difference between "leaning towards" and "decided on"?

"Leaning towards" indicates a preference but not a firm decision, while "decided on" indicates a final choice has been made.