picking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "picking for" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where someone is selecting or choosing something on behalf of someone else, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "I am picking for my friend at the store since she is unable to go herself."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The exposed population consisted of waste pickers engaged in waste picking for at least 1 year.

BMJ Open

Workers with occupations other than waste picking for at least 1 year served as the control group and lived in or close to the waste picker areas and in similar socio-economic conditions.

BMJ Open

Many teams were picking for someone else.

The New York Times - Sports

"When I'm picking for international games, it's not only on Premiership form.

Independent

"Once you start picking for depth, you end up with a team of mediocre football players".

The New York Times - Sports

(He said he looked there because he thought the leaves resembled the skins of wine grapes, which he had been picking for weeks).

The New York Times - Food

Mushroom picking for commercial gain is illegal, but the general public are allowed a total of 1.5kg of mushrooms per person, per day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For Denise King, 65, and her husband, Bruce, it is their third season picking for the Tyrrell family, and altogether they've been on the road for six years.

The Guardian

Others are pretty clearly gunning to become household names, like Representative Allen West, a Republican from Florida, who began his Congressional career by picking, for his top aide, a radio talk show host known for her colorful gift of gab.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

When she was eighteen, Corean left fruit-picking for the Job Corps, a Great Society program for the poor which had an opening in Oklahoma City.

The New Yorker

A few miles down the road from Mr. Paschal's farm, in the neighboring town of Randolph, sits Sun High Orchards, a 63-year-old preserved farm with apple and peach groves and pumpkin-picking for school groups.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "picking for", ensure the context clearly indicates you are selecting something on behalf of someone or something else. Clarity is key since it is not a universally recognized idiom.

Common error

Avoid using "picking for" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more standard alternatives like "selecting for" or "choosing for" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picking for" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act of selecting or choosing something with a specific purpose or on behalf of someone else. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts, from sports team selection to grape harvesting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "picking for" is a phrase used to describe the act of selecting or choosing something on behalf of someone or something else. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig suggests that it's not a standard or widely recognized idiom, making it less common in formal writing. As demonstrated by Ludwig examples, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media and scientific contexts. Consider alternatives like "selecting for" or "choosing for" in more formal settings. Ludwig AI indicates that while functional, the phrase's non-standard nature warrants careful consideration in different writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

selecting for

Emphasizes the act of choosing with a specific purpose or criteria.

choosing for

A more general term for making a selection on behalf of someone or something.

selecting on behalf of

Highlights the representation aspect of the selection process.

choosing in place of

Indicates that the selection is made because the intended party is unavailable or unable to choose.

deciding for

Implies a more decisive role in making the selection.

hand-picking for

Suggests careful and deliberate selection for a specific purpose.

nominating for

Suitable when selecting for an award or position.

appointing for

Appropriate when selecting someone for a specific role or responsibility.

recruiting for

Applicable in contexts where someone is selecting for a team or organization.

sourcing for

Focuses on finding the best option in supply chain and operations contexts.

FAQs

What does "picking for" mean?

The phrase "picking for" generally means selecting or choosing something on behalf of someone or something else. It's not as common as alternatives like "selecting for" or "choosing for".

What are some alternatives to "picking for"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "selecting for", "choosing for", or "selecting on behalf of".

Is "picking for" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "picking for" is not a standard or widely recognized idiom. It is more common to use alternatives like "selecting for" or "choosing for" in formal contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "picking for"?

The phrase "picking for" is appropriate when the context clearly indicates selection or choice on behalf of another, typically in informal settings. Consider alternatives in formal writing.