purchasing food

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "purchasing food" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of buying food items, whether in a general context or a specific situation. Example: "I spent the afternoon purchasing food for the upcoming family gathering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

In 1920, about 40 percent of an American family's income went to purchasing food.

The New York Times

Purchasing food abroad can expedite an immediate disaster response and benefit some long-term development programs.

The New York Times

The rules prevent aid agencies like the World Food Program from purchasing food from the closest and most cost-effective sellers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Legislation that earned members green cred included bills to strengthen the city's recycling program, remove barriers to the installation of rooftop solar panels, increase buildings' energy efficiency and develop guidelines for city agencies' purchasing food grown in New York State.

The New York Times

Payment isn't settled until the end of the season, which is why the majority of workers end up purchasing food and alcohol — and thus tremendously reducing their earnings — at the company store.

The New York Times

Child food insecurity was associated with purchasing food from mobile food vendors, while household food security was associated with using pulgas or neighbors/friends.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Proposed changes include financially incentivizing the purchase of healthier foods and prohibiting the use of funds for purchasing foods high in added sugars.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Consumers are interested in optimal health and are purposefully purchasing foods containing bioactives.

European Journal of Nutrition

About 15.5% of surveyed customers reported purchasing foods promoted by WES signs or materials.

BMC Public Health

Many factors could contribute to this, including cash availability for purchasing foods, independent of season.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Think about what grows in nature when purchasing foods or ordering in a restaurant.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about food programs or aid, use "purchasing food" to emphasize the programmatic aspect of acquiring food for distribution, rather than personal consumption.

Common error

Avoid using "purchasing food" in casual conversation or informal writing. "Buying food" is often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purchasing food" functions as a gerund phrase, where "purchasing" acts as a verbal noun. As Ludwig shows, it describes the action of buying food, often in a general or programmatic sense.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "purchasing food" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the act of buying food. According to Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to scientific research and formal business communications. While "buying food" serves as a simpler, more common alternative, "purchasing food" is favored in formal settings where precision is valued. The phrase is very common, as demonstrated by the numerous examples available in Ludwig, and is generally considered appropriate for describing the act of acquiring food through financial means.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foot shopping

A more direct and commonplace alternative, focusing on the action of going to purchase food.

buying food supplies

Focuses more on the supplies aspect and less on the direct act of purchasing.

acquiring provisions

More formal and emphasizes the act of obtaining necessary food.

shopping for groceries

More specific to shopping at a grocery store, less general than purchasing.

sourcing edibles

Highlights the origin or source from which the food is obtained.

obtaining edibles

A slightly humorous or clinical term for getting food items.

stocking up on food

Focuses on accumulating a reserve of food, rather than the act of buying itself.

procuring nourishment

Very formal and emphasizes the nutritional aspect of acquiring food.

securing sustenance

Emphasizes the act of ensuring a supply of food for survival.

getting victuals

Archaic term, implying a historical or traditional context.

FAQs

How can I use "purchasing food" in a sentence?

You can use "purchasing food" to describe the act of buying food items, such as "The family is responsible for "purchasing food" for the week".

What is a simple alternative to "purchasing food"?

A simpler alternative is "buying food", which is suitable for most contexts.

When is it more appropriate to use "purchasing food" instead of "buying food"?

"Purchasing food" is more formal and often used in official or business contexts, while "buying food" is more commonly used in everyday conversation.

What's the difference between "purchasing food" and "acquiring food"?

"Acquiring food" can refer to obtaining food through various means, including growing it or receiving it as a gift, while "purchasing food" specifically refers to buying it.