prepare us for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prepare us for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing readiness or equipping someone for a future event or situation. Example: "The training program is designed to prepare us for the challenges we will face in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Nor does it prepare us for "Outline" itself.

The New Yorker

It's an excuse to prepare us for withdrawal..

The Guardian - Books

It's nothing that Coach D'Antoni can prepare us for".

The New York Times - Sports

"It doesn't really prepare us for the real world," said Tori Williams, an eighth grader.

The New York Times

Sometimes I wonder if all of this is meant to prepare us for having a child.

The New York Times

But even these efforts couldn't prepare us for the Wayan brothers and their surreally unfunny spoofs.

Independent

There is also a long tradition of utopian fiction to prepare us for Pristina's fate.

The New York Times - Books

Its purpose was to prepare us for the onset of puberty.

The New York Times

Ives does not prepare us for the endings of his movements.

The New York Times - Arts

This almost prepares us – but nothing could prepare us – for that woman's really moving end.

The Guardian - Books

"The Cubs helped prepare us for losing," said David Bernstein, an editor at Chicago Magazine.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prepare us for", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being prepared for. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "prepare us for" in excessively broad contexts. Instead of saying "This will prepare us for life", specify which aspects of life are being addressed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prepare us for" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of making someone or a group ready for a future event or situation. As Ludwig suggests, it denotes readiness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prepare us for" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates readiness for a future event or situation. As Ludwig confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and it finds frequent application across a spectrum of contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in science and business. While generally neutral in tone, context can shift it towards a more formal register. When employing this phrase, specify the subject that you are preparing for in order to enhance clarity and prevent overgeneralization. Alternatives include "get us ready for", "equip us for", and "train us for", offering nuanced options for conveying readiness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get us ready for

Emphasizes immediate action and readiness.

equip us for

Highlights the provision of necessary tools or resources.

make us ready for

Similar to 'get us ready for' but with a slightly more formal tone.

train us for

Focuses on the process of learning and skill development.

prime us for

Suggests a state of optimal readiness or anticipation.

brace ourselves for

Implies preparing for something challenging or unpleasant.

steel ourselves for

Similar to 'brace ourselves for' but with a stronger emphasis on mental fortitude.

fortify us for

Suggests strengthening or reinforcing in anticipation of something.

condition us for

Emphasizes a process of adapting to a specific set of circumstances.

groom us for

Implies a careful and deliberate preparation for a particular role or task.

FAQs

How to use "prepare us for" in a sentence?

Use "prepare us for" to indicate readiness for a future event or situation. For example, "The training program will "prepare us for" the challenges ahead".

What can I say instead of "prepare us for"?

You can use alternatives like "get us ready for", "equip us for", or "train us for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "prepare us for" or "prepares us for"?

"Prepare us for" is used with plural subjects (e.g., they, we), while "prepares us for" is used with singular subjects (e.g., it, he, she). For example, "They "prepare us for" the test", and "It "prepares us for" the future".

What's the difference between "prepare us for" and "prepare for"?

"Prepare us for" implies preparing a group or entity, whereas "prepare for" is a more general instruction. For example, "The coach will "prepare us for" the game," versus "Everyone should "prepare for" the meeting".