seeking alternatives

USAGE SUMMARY

"seeking alternatives" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are looking for other options or choices. For example, "We are seeking alternatives to help us reduce our electricity usage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Television executives say they are seeking alternatives.

The New York Times

Yet opponents are carefully seeking alternatives.

The New York Times

Other states are also seeking alternatives to pentobarbital.

The Guardian

Tyre-producers are seeking alternatives, including recycling old tyres and using more synthetic material.

The Economist

Voters are seeking alternatives to the failed austerity policies of the three business-as-usual parties.

The Guardian - Opinion

DISENCHANTED with public stockmarkets, wealthy investors have for some time been seeking alternatives.

The Economist

People seeking alternatives may well find what they are looking for in prepaid cards.

The New York Times

"People are reading and seeking alternatives to ease what they're suffering.

The Guardian

The county has begun seeking alternatives in case the medical center is forced to shut down.

The New York Times

A growing educated middle class is losing touch with apartheid history and seeking alternatives.

The Guardian

She began seeking alternatives, and finally attended a retreat on the Marymount campus.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seeking alternatives" to convey a proactive and intentional search for other options, especially when the current approach is not working or is undesirable.

Common error

While "seeking alternatives" is generally acceptable, in highly formal or academic writing, consider more precise synonyms like "investigating options" or "exploring possibilities" to enhance the tone and clarity of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeking alternatives" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act of looking for or considering different options, as seen in Ludwig examples where voters are seeking alternatives to traditional policies or states are seeking alternatives to certain drugs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

19%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seeking alternatives" is a versatile and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys the act of looking for different options. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and acceptability in a wide range of writing contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider more formal synonyms in academic or professional writing. The phrase is commonly found in news articles, academic papers, and scientific publications, demonstrating its broad applicability. Remember to be specific about the criteria for your alternatives to improve the efficiency of your search.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exploring options

Focuses on a broader exploration rather than a directed search.

considering other choices

Highlights the thought process behind evaluating different possibilities.

looking into substitutes

Suggests a direct replacement for something that is lacking or unavailable.

investigating different avenues

Implies a more thorough investigation into various potential paths.

pursuing varied approaches

Emphasizes the active pursuit of multiple different methods.

researching possible solutions

Highlights the research aspect of finding alternatives to problems.

assessing alternative routes

Focuses on evaluating different paths or strategies to achieve a goal.

examining potential replacements

Stresses the inspection of alternatives to identify suitable replacements.

evaluating alternate strategies

Highlights the act of determining the value of alternative strategies.

considering backup plans

Implies preparation and planning for situations where the primary plan fails.

FAQs

How can I use "seeking alternatives" in a sentence?

"Seeking alternatives" is used to describe the act of looking for different options or solutions, as in, "The company is seeking alternatives to reduce its carbon footprint".

What phrases are similar to "seeking alternatives"?

You can use alternatives like "exploring options", "considering other choices", or "investigating different avenues" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "seeking alternatives" or "finding alternatives"?

"Seeking alternatives" emphasizes the process of searching, while "finding alternatives" emphasizes the result of successfully locating them. The best choice depends on whether you want to highlight the search or its outcome.

When is it appropriate to use "seeking alternatives" in writing?

Use "seeking alternatives" when you want to convey that someone is actively searching for different options or solutions, particularly when the current ones are insufficient or undesirable. It is suitable in many contexts, from news reports to academic papers.