lend weight to

USAGE SUMMARY

'lend weight to' is an acceptable and often used phrase in written English.
It typically means to give more credibility or importance to something, and is often used when referring to arguments or opinions. For example: "The politician's lengthy experience in the area lends weight to his arguments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Are we the ones who lend weight to our words or do they lend weight to us? Words and people are intimately inter-connected.

The Guardian

But it could lend weight to Mr. Bacanovic's argument that he did nothing wrong.

The New York Times

Moreover, the statistics about police violence lend weight to Tarantino's argument.

The Guardian - Film

Obama's 2008 and 2012 victories lend weight to the optimistic assessments of Goldman and his collaborators.

The New York Times

A single modern species of peripatid found in India was thought to lend weight to this second hypothesis.

The Guardian

The findings, they said, lend weight to arguments that states should make mandatory seat belt laws tougher.

The New York Times - Health

The findings lend weight to claims from critics that police in Kern County are effectively policed only by themselves.

The Guardian

If Nasrallah can avoid becoming too involved in Gaza, it could lend weight to his political aims.

The Guardian - Opinion

Banksy's coöpting of the site, if not precisely consonant with the preservationists' message, will likely lend weight to their cause.

The New Yorker

The results, they said, lend weight to arguments that there should be independent audits of surgical results.

The New York Times - Health

Often informative, always marked by the well-observed detail, these essays solemnly lend weight to their subject.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lend weight to", ensure the subject offering the 'weight' is credible and relevant to the topic. Otherwise, the phrase could seem misplaced or ineffective.

Common error

Avoid using "lend weight to" when the source of support is weak or irrelevant. This can undermine your argument and make it seem less convincing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lend weight to" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate that something adds credibility, importance, or validity to an argument, claim, or idea. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used to enhance the persuasiveness of a statement. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its application in various contexts, from legal cases to scientific arguments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lend weight to" is a versatile and widely used phrase that means to add credibility or importance to something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, especially in news, science, and formal writing. To enhance your writing, use "lend weight to" when you want to strengthen an argument or idea, ensuring that the source of support is credible and relevant. Avoid misattributing the source of weight to maintain the effectiveness of your argument. Consider alternatives like "add credence to" or "support the case for" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

add credence to

Focuses on adding believability or trustworthiness.

bolster the argument for

Implies strengthening a specific viewpoint or proposition.

support the case for

Highlights the provision of evidence or reasoning in favor of something.

buttress the idea of

Suggests reinforcing a concept, making it more resilient to challenge.

give strength to

Emphasizes the act of empowering or fortifying something.

add substance to

Focuses on providing depth and meaning.

reinforce the validity of

Highlights the reaffirmation of something's correctness or accuracy.

enhance the plausibility of

Implies increasing the likelihood of something being believable or acceptable.

lend support to

Indicates providing assistance or encouragement.

validate the importance of

Highlights the act of confirming something's significance.

FAQs

How can I use "lend weight to" in a sentence?

Use "lend weight to" to indicate that something adds credibility or importance to a statement or argument. For example: "The expert's testimony "lends weight to" the plaintiff's case."

What does "lend weight to" mean?

"Lend weight to" means to add credibility or importance to something, such as an argument, idea, or opinion.

Which is correct, "lend weight to" or "give weight to"?

Both "lend weight to" and "give weight to" are correct and can be used interchangeably in most contexts, although "lend weight to" might imply a more significant contribution to credibility.

What are some alternatives to "lend weight to"?

Alternatives include "add credence to", "bolster the argument for", or ""support the case for depending on the specific context".