predisposition toward

USAGE SUMMARY

"predisposition toward" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing someone's inclination or tendency to favor something. Example: "She has a predisposition toward artistic expression." Alternative expressions include "tendency to" and "inclination for."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It reflects perfectly the American predisposition toward hyperbole under duress.

The New Yorker

Revelation's special programming highlights the festival's predisposition toward unconventional offerings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Because I now understand my predisposition toward anxiety, I can talk myself out of simple fears".

The New York Times - Magazine

Zora Brown's family may well have a particular predisposition toward breast cancer.

The New York Times - Health

"If you have a hereditary predisposition toward varicose veins, we can't get rid of that predisposition".

The New York Times - Health

Each side accepted him without demurral and each evidently had high hopes for his predisposition toward itself.

The New Yorker

Boxers and wrestlers who diet to qualify for their weight classes presumably have no particular genetic predisposition toward obesity.

The New York Times

But reporters who checked out his stories found no police record, no assault and battery, no predisposition toward violence.

The New York Times

Some people have an underlying arthritic condition or a genetic predisposition toward musculoskeletal injuries, Dr. Spagnoletti said.

The New York Times

Foy could see that his boss was struggling to reconcile his predisposition toward RGGI with other considerations.

The New York Times - Magazine

But maybe not, and he is one of the lucky few with a genetic predisposition toward semi-eternal youth.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific nouns like "heart disease", "violence" or "fairness" to clearly define the nature of the inclination

Common error

Avoid using "predisposition with" when you mean a tendency. While "predisposition for" is acceptable, using "toward" more clearly indicates the direction of the inclination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "predisposition toward" functions as a complex noun phrase where the head noun "predisposition" is modified by a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to establish a causal or inherent link between a subject and a likely outcome. It is frequently employed as an abstract subject or the object of a verb like "understand" or "identify".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The linguistic data from Ludwig AI confirms that "predisposition toward" is a highly authoritative and versatile phrase. It is predominantly found in scientific and journalistic contexts to denote an innate or pre-existing inclination. Whether discussing a genetic "susceptibility to" disease or a psychological ""tendency toward"" certain behaviors, this phrase provides a level of clinical precision that simpler alternatives lack. Writers should feel confident using it to add weight and clarity to formal arguments, particularly when navigating the intersection of nature and nurture. The strong presence of the phrase in top-tier publications like The New York Times underscores its reliability in standard modern English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tendency toward

Broadens the scope to include learned behaviors or general patterns rather than just innate traits

propensity for

Focuses on the likelihood of a specific behavior occurring, often used in legal or psychological contexts

inclination for

Suggests a personal preference or psychological leaning rather than a biological certainty

proclivity for

Often implies a natural or habitual inclination toward something, frequently used for negative traits

susceptibility to

Specifically implies a vulnerability to a condition or negative influence

proneness to

Highlights the state of being liable to experience something, often physical like injury

leaning toward

More informal and often used to describe political or ideological preferences

bias toward

Specifically highlights a lack of neutrality or a systemic preference

aptitude for

Focuses on a natural talent or ability rather than a medical or behavioral risk

bent for

A slightly archaic or literary way to describe a natural talent or bias

FAQs

Is it correct to say "predisposition toward"?

Yes, "predisposition toward" is perfectly correct and widely used in formal writing. It is particularly common in medical and social science contexts to describe an inherent "tendency toward" a specific state or behavior.

What is the difference between "predisposition toward" and "predisposition for"?

Both are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. However, "toward" is frequently preferred in the US when describing a movement or lean, whereas "for" is often used when the condition is viewed as a destination or fixed state.

What can I use instead of "predisposition toward" in a medical paper?

In medical contexts, you might use "susceptibility to" or "genetic risk for" to provide more specificity regarding the biological nature of the condition.

Can I use "predisposition toward" for personality traits?

Absolutely. It is used to describe behavioral inclinations such as a "proclivity for" narcissism or an American "bias toward" hyperbole.