mutual love of

USAGE SUMMARY

"mutual love of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe two people who both have a strong affection for something. For example, "The couple shared a mutual love of classic films."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They talked about their mutual love of Bruce Springsteen.

The New Yorker

Both had been taken by their mutual love of adventure.

The New York Times - Style

The two discovered a mutual love of sailing.

The New York Times

The two literary heavy-weights became close friends, sharing a mutual love of the sport.

Independent

She and Irving bond over a mutual love of Duke Ellington and begin an affair.

The New Yorker

He discovered a mutual love of cooking and gardening, and a zeal for socializing.

The New York Times

We discovered a mutual love of food, so we set up a bi-monthly lunch club.

Independent

They'd never spoken before, but quickly discovered their mutual love of basketball.

Columbia University

Her connections to Mr. Trump go beyond their mutual love of bloated men in spandex suits.

The New York Times

Ms. Fenyvest credits "mutual respect and mutual love of animals" with their longevity as a couple.

The New York Times

But what most inspires them here is their mutual love of Mozart's violin sonatas.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mutual love of" to clearly express a shared passion or appreciation between two or more entities. It's effective for highlighting common ground and connection.

Common error

Avoid exclusively using "love" when describing shared interests. Consider alternatives like "passion", "fondness", or "appreciation" to add nuance and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mutual love of" functions as a noun phrase acting as a prepositional complement. It identifies a shared affection or passion. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use to highlight common interests forming bonds or friendships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mutual love of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies a shared affection or passion. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a versatile expression suitable for various contexts, though most common in news and media. While the phrase conveys a strong connection, remember to use "shared affection for", "common passion for", or "joint appreciation for" as synonyms to add nuance to your writing and avoid repetition. Remember that a variety of expressions can enrich your language and effectively convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared affection for

Replaces "love" with "affection", suggesting a gentler, less intense feeling.

common passion for

Substitutes "love" with "passion", implying a stronger, more enthusiastic shared interest.

shared enthusiasm for

Emphasizes excitement and active engagement in a common area of interest.

joint appreciation for

Uses "appreciation" instead of "love", indicating a shared understanding and enjoyment of something, often something artistic or intellectual.

shared fondness for

Employs "fondness" for "love", suggesting a warm, affectionate feeling, but perhaps less intense.

common interest in

Replaces "love" with "interest", denoting a shared curiosity or engagement, which might be less emotional.

reciprocal admiration for

Focuses on mutual respect and high regard rather than affection or passion.

likemindedness regarding

Focuses on the shared mindset or agreement about something, rather than emotional connection.

a bond formed over

Shifts focus to the resulting relationship from the shared interest rather than the love itself.

congeniality towards

Highlights friendliness and compatibility regarding a subject, shifting from emotion to social ease.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "mutual love of" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "joint appreciation for" or "shared enthusiasm for". These alternatives provide a more sophisticated and professional feel.

Is "mutual love for" grammatically correct instead of "mutual love of"?

While "mutual love for" isn't incorrect, "mutual love of" is generally preferred and more commonly used, especially when followed by a specific thing or activity. Both are acceptable, but "mutual love of" sounds more natural to native English speakers.

What are some synonyms for "love" in the context of "mutual love of"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "love" with "affection", "passion", "fondness", "admiration", or "appreciation" to vary your language.

How does "mutual love of" differ from "shared interest in"?

"Mutual love of" implies a stronger emotional connection and deeper appreciation than "shared interest in". While both indicate a common ground, "mutual love of" suggests a more passionate and heartfelt connection.