put forward a candidate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put forward a candidate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting or proposing someone for a position or role, often in a formal or professional context. Example: "During the meeting, we decided to put forward a candidate for the open position in the marketing department."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Four years later, American biathlon leaders put forward a candidate to oppose him in his re-election.

The New York Times - Sports

If I put forward a candidate with an unusual or foreign name, 90% of the time I will hear nothing.

The Guardian - Money

US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner quickly announced that the US government would put forward a candidate in the coming weeks.

The Guardian - Opinion

His hand hovers over these elections, even though his party cannot put forward a candidate and he has not endorsed anyone.

The New York Times

China, the third largest financial contributor to the I.M.F. after the United States and Japan, has not put forward a candidate of its own.

The New York Times

Labour does intend to put forward a candidate in the west London constituency and the party's national executive committee is preparing a timetable to choose a candidate.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

We are not putting forward a candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for September.

The New York Times

Once each party in our system puts forward a candidate, it is a mistake to discount the possibility that anything can happen.

The New Yorker

The Green party leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley hinted their party might consider not putting forward a candidate in the byelection, though they stressed it would be a local decision.

The Guardian

Graham said Republicans understood that "you're basically going to replace one liberal with another". The only chance for a real surprise in the hearings, Graham said, would be if the White House, as it has with several Cabinet nominees, puts forward a candidate with financial or ethical problems.

The Washington Post

"A university putting forward a candidate who has that lesser volume of accomplishments is to some degree taking a risk".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put forward a candidate" when you want to emphasize the act of proposing or suggesting someone for a position, especially in a formal or political context.

Common error

Avoid using "put forward a candidate" in extremely casual conversations; more informal alternatives like "suggest someone" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put forward a candidate" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of nominating or proposing someone for a specific position or role. Ludwig shows it's commonly used in news and media to describe political or organizational nominations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put forward a candidate" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of nominating or proposing someone for a position. Ludwig's analysis of various sources confirms its frequent usage in news and media, formal business contexts, and science. While synonyms like ""nominate a candidate"" or "propose a candidate" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase is suitable for neutral to professional registers, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nominate a candidate

Emphasizes the formal act of officially proposing someone for a position.

propose a candidate

Highlights the suggestion or recommendation of a candidate.

recommend a candidate

Focuses on endorsing a candidate based on their qualifications.

suggest a candidate

Implies a less formal or assertive recommendation.

present a candidate

Stresses the act of introducing a candidate to an audience or selection committee.

advance a candidate

Highlights the promotion or support of a candidate's prospects.

put up a candidate

Uses a more informal, colloquial expression for presenting a candidate.

select a nominee

Focuses on the outcome of the selection process, resulting in a nominee.

endorse an applicant

Stresses formal support for someone applying for a position.

slate a contender

Implies the formal listing or designation of a candidate.

FAQs

What does "put forward a candidate" mean?

The phrase "put forward a candidate" means to nominate, propose, or suggest someone for a position, role, or election. It implies formally presenting someone as a potential choice.

How to use "put forward a candidate" in a sentence?

You can use "put forward a candidate" to describe an organization or individual proposing someone for a role. For example, "The party decided to "nominate a candidate" for the upcoming election".

What can I say instead of "put forward a candidate"?

You can use alternatives like ""nominate a candidate"", "propose a candidate", or "recommend a candidate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "put forward a candidate" or "put a candidate forward"?

"Put forward a candidate" is the standard and more common phrasing. While "put a candidate forward" is grammatically understandable, it is less frequently used and may sound awkward in formal contexts.