lend support

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lend support" is correct and it can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to providing assistance, help, or encouragement to someone or something. Example sentence: The school staff worked together to lend support to the graduating students.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The experimental results lend support to that treatment.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Some internal e-mails lend support to Mr. Corzine's defense.

The New York Times

The Ku Klux Klan showed up to lend support.

The New York Times

But none of these companies agreed to lend support.

The Guardian

These results lend support to the bioinformatics approach to selecting novel, conserved, HIV-1 CTL epitopes.

Vaccine

Findings seem to lend support to the conclusion that abnormalities in brain function alter retinal function.

Journal of Affective Disorders

Results lend support to targeting the early antecedent risk behaviors for tobacco smoking.

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Findings lend support for the use of the PEPA to examine peer counselor competency.

Addictive Behaviors

A literature data set is re-analyzed to lend support to this view.

Analytica Chimica Acta

Empirical evidence from other sources is cited to lend support to this argument.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

The findings lend support to and extend the existing body of research.

Journal of International Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "lend support" implies a temporary provision of help; if the support is ongoing, consider using "provide support" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "lend support" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "provide backing" or "extend assistance" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lend support" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express the act of providing assistance, backing, or encouragement to someone or something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a grammatically correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lend support" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe offering assistance or encouragement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for general usage, although more formal options may exist for academic or scientific contexts. Analysis of the provided examples reveals that "lend support" appears frequently in scientific and news media sources. When considering alternative phrases, be mindful of the specific nuance you want to convey, whether it's the temporary nature of support or the level of formality required. Remember to avoid overuse in highly formal writing and consider more specific terms when applicable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Provide assistance

This alternative is more formal and general, focusing on the act of giving help.

Extend help

This is more formal, emphasizing the reach or scope of the assistance provided.

Give backing

This alternative is less formal and highlights the idea of endorsing or approving something.

Be supportive

This is a more general way to describe offering help or encouragement.

Advocate for

This is more active, suggesting public promotion and defense of a cause.

Champion

This implies active and enthusiastic support for a cause or person.

Offer encouragement

This focuses specifically on emotional or motivational support.

Back up

This is more informal, implying reinforcement or defense.

Show solidarity

This suggests a public demonstration of agreement or support.

Uphold

This is more formal and suggests maintaining or defending a principle or decision.

FAQs

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

You can use "lend support" to describe offering assistance or encouragement. For example: "The community decided to lend support to the local school's fundraising efforts."

What are some alternatives to "lend support"?

Alternatives to "lend support" include "provide assistance", "give backing", or "extend help", depending on the specific context.

Is "lend support" formal or informal?

"Lend support" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal situations, consider alternatives like "provide backing".

What's the difference between "lend support" and "give support"?

"Lend support" often implies a more temporary form of assistance, while "give support" suggests a more general or ongoing form of help. Consider the duration of the assistance when choosing between "lend support" and "give support".