prone

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "prone" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective that means likely or inclined to do something. For example, "The child was prone to making mischief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

A collaboration between the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the British and American Red Cross, Missing Maps aims to use remote mapping to develop free, open-source maps for every settlement on Earth – particularly those areas prone to disaster and diseases such as Ebola.

The Guardian

They're very prone to having affairs, and so on".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Our enthusiasm to tell the truth about David Beckham, that he was vastly overrated and much better deployed as the team mascot than as a walking-pace midfielder prone to yellow and red cards, was right.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the central paradoxes of life in France is that for all the French preen themselves as the most civilised nation on Earth, they are also quickly prone to collapse into self-lacerating fits of low self-esteem.

The Guardian

30 Rock's drug dealer of a physician is prone to saying things like: "You seem nervous.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

· Some of the clothes are unfortunately prone to slight shrinkage, so allow for about 10 per cent extra room.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

He, like all responsible adults in this bushfire-prone patch of Australia, knew the official advice for circumstances such as this: stay and fight or go early.

The Guardian

Photograph: Joe Castro/AAPImage Updated at 1.46pm AEST Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 12.41pm AEST03 41 After a quite serious 24 hours of deciding our nation's future, we may have forgotten about the lighter/infuriating moments of the campaign, so let's take a look at how the most gaffe-prone candidates fared.

The Guardian

He was meant to have folded by now, to have crumbled under the pressure and turned into a gaffe-prone wreck.

The Guardian - Opinion

The pictures and reports emerging do not bode well for other earthquake-prone cities with similar vulnerabilities".

The Guardian

Cathleen ni Houlihan may have only existed in the imagination of a myth-prone people.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prone", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is likely to experience or do. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "prone" when a more neutral term like "likely" would suffice, especially in sensitive contexts where emphasizing vulnerability could be inappropriate. For example, instead of saying "The company is prone to errors", consider "The company is likely to encounter errors" in business contexts.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "prone" primarily functions to describe a subject's tendency or likelihood to experience or exhibit a particular quality or behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests a predisposition, often negative, as seen in examples like "prone to disaster" or "prone to errors".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Sport

12%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "prone" effectively communicates a tendency or likelihood, often with negative implications. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. With a neutral register and frequent appearance in news, sports, and lifestyle contexts, "prone" serves as a valuable tool for expressing probabilities and vulnerabilities. While alternatives like "inclined to", "susceptible to", and "liable to" exist, understanding the subtle differences is key to choosing the most appropriate word for a particular context. Using "prone" correctly and avoiding common errors, such as "prone of", ensures clarity and precision in writing. By using preventive measure can improve your use of the word "prone".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inclined

Indicates a natural tendency or disposition.

susceptible

Suggests a vulnerability to being affected by something.

liable

Implies a legal or probable responsibility.

predisposed

Highlights a pre-existing inclination or vulnerability.

vulnerable

Emphasizes a weakness that makes one easily harmed.

apt

Indicates a natural or habitual tendency.

subject to

Highlights that something is conditional to something else.

given to

Suggests a habitual or characteristic behavior.

tending to

Indicates a current or developing inclination.

open to

Implies accessibility or receptiveness to something.

FAQs

How can I use "prone" in a sentence?

You can use "prone" to describe a tendency towards something, like "This area is "prone to flooding"" or "She is "prone to anxiety"".

What can I say instead of "prone"?

Alternatives include "inclined to", "susceptible to", or "liable to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "prone of" instead of "prone to"?

No, the correct usage is "prone to". For example, "The old bridge is "prone to collapse"", not "prone of collapse".

What's the difference between "prone to" and "vulnerable to"?

"Prone to" indicates a natural tendency or likelihood, while "vulnerable to" suggests a susceptibility to being harmed or negatively affected. "Prone to" implies a disposition, whereas "vulnerable to" highlights a weakness.