save for him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "save for him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is being set aside or reserved for a specific person. Example: "I have saved a piece of cake for him, as I know he loves chocolate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Why is his village empty, save for him and his parents?

The Guardian - Books

Not much has been seen from French in the last couple of years, save for him becoming a Vine sensation after videos and quotes from his 2008 appearance on TV show Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men resurfaced.

Independent

Alan Rickman plays Eli Michaelson, who shortly after the story chugs to a start has won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, a milestone that delights no one save for him.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If there is any sentiment left in sports, let it be saved for him.

The New York Times - Sports

Within hours of the attacks, Mr. Ashcroft had moved into the F.B.I.'s operations center, occupying a suite that Mr. Mueller had saved for him.

The New York Times

"Then he and I bought the building here, which is a landmark building, with his college fund, what I saved for him," Mrs. Juritsch said.

The New York Times

When Hedda appears onstage for the first time, interrupting her husband's happy reunion with his aunt, Juliane (Julie Hamilton), she finds him exclaiming over an old pair of slippers that Juliane has saved for him.

The New Yorker

Even as he gratefully took the place they had saved for him, beside Sandra, he observed that her face had been stiffened and distorted by some sort of stroke.

The New Yorker

On the living room couch, my father is reading the sports pages in every major paper on the Eastern seaboard, saved for him each morning at the West Tisbury drugstore by a man I know only as "Hirsch".

The New York Times - Travel

In 2006, he diverted the tuition money that Anne-Marie had saved for him, and launched a fashion line with his friend Raul López, who also hung out on Christopher Street.

The New Yorker

When I get back to the car I feed my dog a piece of bacon I saved for him in a napkin.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "save for him", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being saved and why it is being saved for the specified person. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the intended meaning is conveyed effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "save for him" in contexts where the act of saving is not directly benefiting the person. For instance, using it to describe saving time in general, instead of saving time specifically for spending with that person, can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "save for him" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often used as an adverbial phrase to modify a verb by indicating the beneficiary of a saving action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

The New Yorker

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "save for him" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is being reserved or set aside for a specific person. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is accurate and usable. Although the phrase isn't extremely common, its meaning is clear and it is used consistently in different contexts, particularly in news and media. When using the phrase, ensure that it's evident what is being saved and how it benefits the individual, and consider more formal alternatives like "set aside for him" for professional or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set aside for him

Emphasizes the act of reserving something specifically for him.

reserved for him

Highlights that something is being kept exclusively for him.

put away for him

Suggests the act of storing or saving something for future use by him.

held back for him

Implies that something is being withheld or conserved for his benefit.

earmarked for him

Highlights that something has been specifically designated for his use.

accumulated for him

Focuses on the process of gathering something over time to benefit him.

amassed for him

Similar to accumulated, but suggests a larger quantity or effort.

secured for him

Implies that something has been obtained and guaranteed for his benefit.

retained for him

Suggests keeping something available or in reserve for his future use.

collected for him

Indicates the act of gathering or obtaining items specifically to benefit him.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "save for him" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "set aside for him" or "reserved for him", which convey a similar meaning with a slightly elevated level of formality.

What does it mean to "save" something "for him"?

To "save" something "for him" means to reserve, allocate, or set something aside specifically for that person's use or benefit. It implies an intention to keep something available until he needs or wants it.

Is "save for him" interchangeable with "saved by him"?

No, "save for him" and "saved by him" have different meanings. "Save for him" means reserving something for his future use. "Saved by him" means he was rescued or that something was preserved thanks to his actions.

What's the difference between "save for him" and "save it for him"?

While both phrases are similar, "save for him" typically refers to saving something tangible or abstract, whereas "save it for him" often refers to saving a specific item or piece of information. The addition of "it" makes the latter more direct and context-dependent.