solicit guidance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solicit guidance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking for advice or direction from someone, typically in a formal or professional context. Example: "Before making a final decision, I would like to solicit guidance from my mentor on this matter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Indeed, Johansson continued to solicit guidance on strategy through a council of country managers called the 1992 Group and through product councils made up of functional managers.

Harvard Business Review

Though we have been told to expect an international architectural competition to design a memorial, and despite vague allusions to something called "cultural programming" (a contradiction in terms), no effort has been made to solicit guidance from thinkers, historians or economists, or from any architects or groups known for depth of historical awareness.

The New York Times

During Hansen's two-week training programme in Russia, Hadfield made sure Hansen knew he could ask questions and solicit guidance.

BBC

Consequently, women's attempts to solicit guidance from pastors are far too often met with aloofness, suggestions for an alternate plan like a "female mentor," or just plain, old rejection.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The space was designed by Morris Architects Planners and local artist Theaster Gates, a UChicago faculty member who solicited guidance from the local arts community, including Chatman and Parson.

University of Chicago

The main concern for the pediatrician soliciting guidance was the occurrence of oliguria as an adverse effect.

Plosone

Media exposure being a source of various government sponsored family planning messages, steered the women soliciting guidance.

BMC Public Health

In the case of the Tamil Nadu fishermen, they earlier tried more conventional tactics to gain the government's attention: picketing the central government offices in Kudankulam, occupying village cemeteries to symbolically solicit the guidance of their ancestors and using their fishing boats to block entry to the nearby harbor.

The New York Times

I have even started mentoring other startups that solicited my guidance.

Huffington Post

"My role in part has been to travel around the region and let all of our friends in the region know the importance of our commitment to try to resolve this conflict," Mr. Cheney said, "to talk about the crown prince's initiative, to look towards the Beirut summit, to solicit advice and guidance from our friends here".

The New York Times

They said he knew that Mr. Aznar had some knowledge and opinions about President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, whom Mr. Bush will meet on Saturday, and that the president was eager to solicit Mr. Aznar's guidance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

"Solicit guidance" works well in professional contexts where a formal tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "solicit guidance" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "ask for advice" or "get some input" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solicit guidance" functions as a verb phrase where "solicit" (verb) is directly acting upon "guidance" (noun). According to Ludwig, it is often used to describe the act of formally requesting advice or direction from someone with expertise. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its usage in various contexts such as business and academia.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "solicit guidance" is a grammatically correct expression used to formally request advice or direction. Ludwig AI identifies its primary function as a verb phrase, typically employed in professional, academic, and news contexts. While not exceedingly common, its consistent usage across credible sources like The New York Times and Harvard Business Review indicates its acceptance and suitability in formal communication. Simpler alternatives such as "seek advice" or "ask for direction" may be preferable in informal settings. Remember to reserve "solicit guidance" for situations requiring a respectful and slightly elevated tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seek advice

This alternative is a more common and general way to express asking for advice.

request counsel

This alternative is more formal and implies seeking advice from a professional or expert.

ask for direction

This alternative focuses on seeking a course of action or instruction.

obtain advice

This alternative emphasizes the act of getting advice.

consult for advice

This alternative implies a more formal consultation process.

get input

This is a more informal way of asking for advice or opinions.

seek recommendations

This alternative specifically involves seeking suggestions or endorsements.

appeal for direction

This alternative suggests a more urgent or formal request for direction.

invite feedback

This option focuses on gathering opinions and suggestions for improvement.

canvass for opinions

This is a more formal and thorough method of gathering a range of opinions.

FAQs

How can I use "solicit guidance" in a sentence?

You can use "solicit guidance" when you want to formally request advice or direction from someone, for example: "Before implementing the new policy, we need to "solicit guidance" from the legal team."

What's a more common way to say "solicit guidance"?

A more common alternative to "solicit guidance" is to "seek advice". It conveys the same meaning in a less formal way.

When is it appropriate to use "solicit guidance"?

It is appropriate to use "solicit guidance" in professional, academic, or formal settings where a respectful and slightly elevated tone is desired. It's well-suited for official requests or reports.

Is "solicit guidance" the same as "ask for help"?

While both phrases involve seeking assistance, "solicit guidance" is more specific to seeking advice or direction, whereas "ask for help" is a more general request for assistance with any task or problem. Consider using "seek advice".