seeking affirmation of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeking affirmation of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a desire for validation or confirmation regarding a particular idea, belief, or action. Example: "In her speech, she emphasized that she was seeking affirmation of her contributions to the project from her peers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

They will never have earned the right in the minds of many fans seeking affirmation of things they want to believe about sports".

The New York Times - Sports

If you don't know yourself very well, you're vulnerable to seeking affirmation of your worth in relationships with others and are under the spell of expecting others to "raise you from the ground up".

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

From those representatives of religions that have spent centuries waring with each other, the pope sought affirmation of the belief that there was "no religious goal that can possibly justify the use of violence by man against man".

The New York Times

A narcissist with insatiable needs for power, control, and, very often fame, the leader seeks affirmation of supreme authority through alignment with public figures and celebrities, achieving large numbers of recruits, and amassing private fiefdoms.

Huffington Post

People laughed, if not at wit or silliness then at least at the cheap gag of a robot seeking affirmation in such a human way: telling jokes to strangers.

The New Yorker

Are we seeking affirmation?

The Guardian

[Raises glass of wine] Brian Moylan: But that's what I'm saying, Hannah needs to know this stuff herself, not be constantly seeking affirmation from everyone.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Often what women remember about the books speaks to who they were — shy girls seeking inspiration; smart girls seeking affirmation.

The New York Times

As Glenn Greenwald notes, Andrew Sullivan spent months ridiculing those of us who were pressuring the president on marriage, claiming we were "desperate" and "sad," seeking "affirmation," something that he said wasn't necessary for him.

Huffington Post

He wasn't necessarily mean; he was just always there, underfoot, at the wrong time, desperately seeking affirmation from prepubescent suburbanites who were socially and biologically engineered to sniff out neediness, for the purposes of withholding approval.

Huffington Post

But in disinheritance, material possessions are emblematic of withheld love; the individual has sought affirmation, approval and affection throughout life, and being cut off is the final raspberry on a sundae of rejection.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seeking affirmation of" when you want to describe a deliberate and active attempt to gain confirmation or validation for something, especially when the validation is expected to be positive or supportive. For example: "The scientist was seeking affirmation of his hypothesis through further experiments."

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences using "seeking affirmation of" in a passive voice construction. Instead of saying "Affirmation was being sought of the new policy", prefer the active voice: "The administration was seeking affirmation of the new policy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeking affirmation of" functions as a verb phrase acting as a noun phrase complement, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the act of actively pursuing validation or confirmation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. This phrase is used to convey a desire for approval or agreement, highlighting the active pursuit of support.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seeking affirmation of" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, although Ludwig reports it as having a relatively uncommon frequency. It describes the act of actively looking for confirmation or validation. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, it conveys a need for external approval, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples. When writing, it's best to use the active voice to maintain clarity and impact. Alternative phrases such as "desiring validation for" or "wanting confirmation of" can be used to vary the language and provide different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wanting confirmation of

Replaces "seeking" with "wanting" and "affirmation" with "confirmation", softening the tone.

requesting confirmation of

Emphasizes the act of formally asking for confirmation.

desiring validation for

Focuses on the internal desire for validation, rather than the active search.

looking for approval of

Substitutes "affirmation" with "approval", highlighting the aspect of acceptance.

in search of validation for

Uses "in search of" to emphasize the active pursuit of validation.

trying to get approval for

Focuses on the attempt to receive explicit approval.

pursuing validation of

Highlights the ongoing effort to obtain validation.

needing endorsement of

Highlights the necessity of external support or agreement.

aiming for corroboration of

Replaces "seeking" with "aiming" and "affirmation" with "corroboration", suggesting a more formal or scientific context.

yearning for acknowledgment of

Emphasizes a deep longing for recognition or acceptance.

FAQs

What does "seeking affirmation of" mean?

The phrase "seeking affirmation of" means actively looking for confirmation, validation, or approval regarding a particular belief, idea, or action. It implies a desire to have one's views or efforts supported by others.

How can I use "seeking affirmation of" in a sentence?

You can use "seeking affirmation of" to describe someone's attempt to get validation. For example: "The politician was "seeking affirmation of" his policies from the public" or "The artist was "seeking affirmation of" her creative choices from critics".

What are some alternatives to "seeking affirmation of"?

Alternatives to "seeking affirmation of" include "desiring validation for", "wanting confirmation of", or "looking for approval of". The best alternative depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "seeking affirmation for" or "seeking affirmation of"?

The correct preposition is "of". "Seeking affirmation of" is the standard and grammatically correct phrase. "Seeking affirmation for" is less common and generally considered incorrect.