liking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'liking for' is not correct and is not used in written English.
To express a liking for something in English, you can use the phrase "to have a liking for" or "to have a preference for". For example: I have a liking for spicy food.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One reason is lawyers' liking for autonomy.

The Economist

I have a liking for lobsters.

The New Yorker

I've never had any liking for wine.

The Guardian - Books

"Liking for meats has been learned and reinforced over years.

The New York Times

But he kept a judge's liking for precedent.

The Economist

These everyday tasters then rated their liking for each batch.

The New York Times - Food

Crooks have also had a liking for them.

The Economist

But I have had a liking for Gormley's work.

The Guardian - Arts

For example, I share his liking for Bergman".

The Guardian - Film

His liking for disco music was given free rein though.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But he just has a great liking for home.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the construction "to have a liking for" or "to have a preference for" for grammatically correct usage.

Common error

Avoid omitting "to have" before "liking for". While frequently used, "liking for" is grammatically incorrect. Use "to have a liking for" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "liking for" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to express a preference or fondness towards something. Although Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, its frequent appearance indicates its communicative relevance. The correct form is "to have a liking for."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "liking for" is frequently used to express a preference or fondness, it's considered grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig AI. The correct form is "to have a liking for". The phrase appears most commonly in News & Media, Science and Wiki, demonstrating its widespread use despite the grammatical issue. When writing, especially in formal contexts, it's best to use the grammatically correct form "to have a liking for" or consider alternatives such as "fondness for", "preference for", or "taste for" to ensure accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fondness for

Replaces "liking" with "fondness", indicating a warm affection.

preference for

Uses "preference" instead of "liking", suggesting a choice based on favor.

taste for

Substitutes "liking" with "taste", implying a developed appreciation.

inclination towards

Replaces "liking" with "inclination", indicating a natural tendency.

partiality to

Uses "partiality" to suggest a biased fondness.

appreciation for

Replaces "liking" with "appreciation", indicating admiration and enjoyment.

penchant for

Substitutes "liking" with "penchant", implying a strong and habitual liking.

predilection for

Uses "predilection" to suggest a pre-existing preference.

affinity for

Replaces "liking" with "affinity", suggesting a natural connection or attraction.

relish for

Substitutes "liking" with "relish", implying enjoyment and enthusiasm.

FAQs

Is "liking for" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "liking for" is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this is "to have a liking for" or "to have a preference for".

What are some alternatives to "liking for"?

You can use alternatives like "fondness for", "preference for", or "taste for" depending on the context.

How can I use "to have a liking for" in a sentence?

You can say, "She has a liking for classical music" or "He has a liking for spicy food".

What's the difference between "liking for" and "to have a liking for"?

"Liking for" is a grammatically incorrect phrase, while "to have a liking for" is the correct way to express a preference or fondness. For example, use "I have a liking for cats" instead of "I liking for cats".