prone to forgetting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prone to forgetting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who has a tendency to forget things frequently. Example: "She is prone to forgetting important dates, so it's best to remind her in advance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It's highly recommended as a custom if, like me, you are prone to forgetting things on your way out of the house.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They are generally more expensive, they have to go via the shortest route – which may not necessarily be the best one – and for all the rigour of the Knowledge, cabbies are as prone to forgetting as the rest of us.

The Guardian - Tech

However, it does have the effect of addressing the other side of the bag transaction: not only are customers too prone to forgetting their reusable bags, staff are too willing to dish out plastic carriers willy-nilly.

Independent

When users' design feedback is gathered through extended debriefs, users are prone to forgetting encountered issues or incidents.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Locations of available cars can be pinpointed online or through a smartphone, which is also helpful for those prone to forgetting where they parked their vehicle.

Huffington Post

For people of faith, the quality of seeing the world from another's perspective, the core of true compassion, is something we are prone to forgetting.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

What intellectuals are prone to forget is that this distance poses not only conceptual difficulties but ethical ones as well.

The New York Times - Books

But that elevation is still an indicator of a media that's at ease in the Twitterverse's various echo chambers, and prone to forget that there's a wider world outside.

The New York Times

Obviously, people were prone to forget, and missed out on valuable data as a result.

TechCrunch

Distraction makes our memories weaker, and consequently we are more prone to forget things.

Huffington Post

But while it may be your favourite season, summer also has a savage and dark underside that we're prone to forget or at least underestimate.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a general tendency, use "prone to forgetting" to highlight a habitual or characteristic forgetfulness. For example, "She's prone to forgetting appointments if they aren't immediately added to her calendar."

Common error

Avoid using "prone to forgetting" to describe isolated instances of forgetfulness. This phrase denotes a consistent pattern, not just a one-time event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prone to forgetting" functions as an adjective phrase describing a tendency or likelihood to forget. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a characteristic behavior. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prone to forgetting" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon way to describe someone who has a tendency to forget things. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms the phrase's validity and provides real-world examples from sources like The Guardian and The New York Times. While interchangeable with alternatives like "likely to forget" or "tends to forget", it's important to use "prone to forgetting" to describe a consistent pattern of forgetfulness, not just isolated incidents. The phrase is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, and understanding its nuances will enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely to forget

Uses 'likely' instead of 'prone', suggesting a similar probability of forgetting.

tends to forget

Replaces 'prone' with 'tends', indicating a habitual action of forgetting.

apt to forget

Substitutes 'prone' with 'apt', implying a natural inclination to forget.

inclined to forget

Replaces 'prone' with 'inclined', suggesting a disposition towards forgetting.

has a tendency to forget

Expresses the idea of being "prone to forgetting" in a more verbose way.

has a habit of forgetting

Indicates a repeated action of forgetting, similar to being "prone to forgetting".

forgetful

Uses a single adjective to describe the state of being prone to forgetting.

easily forgets

Directly states that someone easily forgets things.

forget things easily

Focuses on the ease with which someone forgets, implying a similar meaning.

is forgetful by nature

Suggests that forgetfulness is inherent to someone's character.

FAQs

How can I use "prone to forgetting" in a sentence?

You can use "prone to forgetting" to describe someone or something with a tendency to forget things. For example, "He is "prone to forgetting" his keys" or "The system was "prone to forgetting" user preferences after an update".

What are some alternatives to saying "prone to forgetting"?

Some alternatives include "likely to forget", "tends to forget", "forgetful", or "has a tendency to forget".

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

While "prone to" suggests a predisposition, it's typically followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). Therefore, "prone to forgetting" is grammatically more standard than "prone to forget". Alternatively, you could restructure the sentence, such as "He is "prone to make mistakes"".

What's the difference between "prone to forgetting" and simply being "forgetful"?

"Prone to forgetting" implies a tendency or likelihood to forget, whereas "forgetful" is a direct adjective describing someone who forgets things often. The nuance lies in the emphasis: "prone to forgetting" highlights the process or inclination, while "forgetful" is a state of being.