pleas for compassion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pleas for compassion" is not correct; it should be "pleas for compassion." You can use it when discussing requests or appeals for empathy and understanding, often in a humanitarian or emotional context.
Example: "In times of crisis, there are often pleas for compassion from those affected, urging others to help and support them."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Ever since the news of Darryl Strawberry's suspension from baseball because of drug use, I've been touched by the pleas for compassion among his fans, teammates, Yankee management and New Yorkers everywhere (editorial, March 1).

The New York Times

There were no mea culpas from Howe, no soul-baring, no pleas for compassion.

Los Angeles Times

The title (and title poem) are satiric pleas for compassion for those who have briefly shone in the bright gaze of the gods of good fortune -- once young and beautiful, once star-like, but now burnt out and irrelevant.

HuffPost

This war was never intended to claim the white suburbs, and if only the plague had remained contained to a quiet ethnic cleansing we would not see the public outcry and the pleas for compassion and mercy that ring out all over the nation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It amounts to a plea for compassion.

The Guardian - Books

This is not just a plea for compassion for the suffering Other; the Other could very well be us.

The New York Times

Yesterday, the United Nations issued a plea for compassion in the handling of the refugees, most of them from Afghanistan.

The Guardian

The United Nations issued a plea for compassion for the refugees, mostly Afghans, rescued Monday by the Norwegian ship from a sinking Indonesian ferry, above.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, for the civic authorities, the sit-in is not a plea for compassion but an illegal occupation, and the machinery of justice starts to grind.

The New Yorker

Bruce Springsteen, the E Street Band and a string section opened the show with his muscular new single, a militant plea for compassion as a kind of patriotism: "We Take Care of Our Own".

The New York Times - Arts

In a plea for compassion, Archbishop Fernando Saenz asked the government today to pardon two former soldiers convicted of raping and killing three American nuns and a social worker in 1980.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When seeking to evoke empathy, consider using stronger verbs like "appeals" or "cries" for greater impact. If you aim for correctness, ensure the phrase sounds natural within the sentence structure.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "pleas for compassion" as it sounds somewhat unnatural. Instead, opt for more common and grammatically sound alternatives such as "appeals for empathy" or "requests for understanding" for clearer and more effective communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pleas for compassion" functions as a noun phrase expressing a request or appeal for empathy and understanding. Ludwig AI indicates the phrasing is not correct, suggesting that more common and natural alternatives should be considered.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "pleas for compassion" is understandable, it is not a standard or preferred phrase in contemporary English. Ludwig AI points out its lack of naturalness. The phrase aims to evoke empathy and support but is better conveyed using alternatives like ""appeals for empathy"" or ""requests for understanding"". Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it's advisable to use more common phrasing for clarity and impact. Always consider your audience and the tone you wish to convey when choosing your words.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appeals for empathy

This alternative uses "appeals" instead of "pleas" and "empathy" instead of "compassion", maintaining a similar emotional tone.

requests for understanding

This option replaces "pleas" with "requests" and "compassion" with "understanding", focusing on cognitive empathy.

cries for mercy

This version employs "cries" to intensify the sense of urgency and "mercy" to highlight the need for leniency.

demands for sympathy

This alternative uses "demands" to emphasize the insistence on receiving sympathy, changing the tone slightly.

entreaties for kindness

Here, "entreaties" suggests a more formal and earnest request, while "kindness" replaces "compassion".

solicitations for clemency

This phrase uses "solicitations" to imply a formal seeking and "clemency" to specify a request for leniency in judgment.

petitions for lenience

"Petitions" suggests a formal request, and "lenience" focuses on a milder form of judgment.

calls for humaneness

This option replaces "pleas" with "calls" and "compassion" with "humaneness", emphasizing the quality of being humane.

supplications for pity

"Supplications" indicates a humble and earnest request, while "pity" implies a feeling of sorrow and compassion.

urgings for benevolence

This phrase uses "urgings" to convey a strong encouragement and "benevolence" to highlight the desire for goodwill.

FAQs

What is a more natural way to say "pleas for compassion"?

Alternatives include "appeals for empathy", "requests for understanding", or "cries for mercy". These options often sound more natural and fluent.

When is it appropriate to use "pleas for compassion"?

While grammatically understandable, "pleas for compassion" is not commonly used. It may fit in formal or literary contexts where slightly unusual phrasing is acceptable, but generally, alternatives like "appeals for empathy" are preferred.

How does "pleas for compassion" differ from "appeals for compassion"?

"Pleas for compassion" and "appeals for compassion" are similar in meaning, but the latter is more commonly used and sounds more natural. The word "appeals" tends to be the more standard choice in modern English.

Can "pleas for compassion" be considered grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly grammatically incorrect, "pleas for compassion" is less common and may sound awkward. Preferring "appeals for compassion" or "requests for compassion" will typically provide better clarity and fluency.