recover for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'recover for' is not commonly used in written English and is not considered to be part of a complete sentence. If you want to express the idea of recovering something, you would typically use a phrase such as 'recover from' or 'recovering from.' For example, you could say "He is slowly recovering from his illness."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His reputation did not recover for years.

The New York Times - Books

Lowe's reputation wouldn't recover for a decade.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Then I recover for three minutes.

The Washington Post

Prices did not recover for a good eight years.

The New York Times

They were allowed to recover for at least five days.

Nature

Mice were allowed to recover for 7 days before recording.

Nature

He has five days to recover for Sunday.

Independent

"Hopefully I will be able to recover for Sunday.

Independent

OVX groups were allowed to recover for two months.

European Journal of Pharmacology

After arrest, animals were rewarmed, weaned off bypass, and allowed to recover for 4 hours.

Stanford University

179 (1905); Bohlen, 'Right to Recover for Injury Resulting from Negligence Without Impact,' 41 Am.L.Reg.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to regaining health or strength after an illness or injury, use "recover from" instead of "recover for". For example, say "He needs time to recover from the surgery" instead of "He needs time to recover for the surgery".

Common error

Avoid using "recover for" when you mean "recover from". "Recover from" is the standard and grammatically correct way to express regaining health or overcoming a setback. For example, it's more appropriate to say, "She is recovering from the flu" instead of "She is recovering for the flu".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recover for" functions as a verb phrase, often incorrectly used in place of the more standard "recover from". Ludwig indicates that while it appears in various contexts, its grammatical correctness is questionable. The intended function is usually to describe the process of regaining something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "recover for" appears frequently across a range of sources, particularly in science, news, and academic contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig analysis and real-world examples suggest that "recover from" is the more appropriate and standard phrase when referring to regaining something, such as health or financial stability after a loss. Therefore, it is advisable to use "recover from" to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. Furthermore, remember that while alternatives such as "compensate for" may exist, they significantly change the phrase's intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recuperate for

Replaces 'recover' with 'recuperate', emphasizing a return to health or strength, while keeping the 'for' preposition, although the construction remains uncommon.

compensate for

Shifts the meaning to providing restitution or amends for something, moving away from the original sense of recuperation.

make amends for

Similar to 'compensate for', this phrase focuses on rectifying a wrong or deficiency, altering the original intent of recovery.

recover damages for

This phrase is specific to legal contexts and involves seeking compensation for losses or harm.

reclaim for

Implies regaining something previously lost or taken, changing the nuance from personal recovery to repossession.

retrieve for

Focuses on getting something back, typically an object or piece of information, differing from personal or economic recovery.

heal in order to

Expresses the reason or purpose for recovering, introducing a new clause and altering the original phrase structure.

get back for

An informal way of saying to retaliate or avenge something, completely different from the concept of recuperation.

bounce back to

An idiomatic way of saying recover quickly, but not in the same way as the query.

rebound to

Refers to returning to a previous level or condition, often used in economic or performance contexts, diverging from personal recovery.

FAQs

How should I properly use the word "recover" in a sentence?

The verb "recover" is typically followed by the preposition "from" when referring to regaining health or overcoming a difficulty. For example, you would say "recover from an illness" rather than "recover for an illness".

What's a common mistake people make when using the word "recover"?

A frequent mistake is using "for" instead of "from" after "recover" when talking about health or overcoming a problem. Remember, it's almost always "recover from".

Which is correct, "recover for" or "recover from"?

"Recover from" is generally the correct phrase to use when discussing health, loss, or setbacks. "Recover for" isn't a standard English construction, and its use should be avoided in formal writing.

Are there situations where a phrase similar to "recover for" might be appropriate?

While "recover for" is not a standard phrase, you might use "compensate for" or "make up for" to express providing something in return for a loss or damage, although these phrases don't directly involve the act of recovery itself.