solicit story

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "solicit story" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to requesting or asking for a story, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "I would like to solicit a story from you about your travels."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Craig recommended starting a Web site to solicit story ideas.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Dr. Ronald Brooks, an assistant professor in UCLA Health's Department of Family Medicine, is leading a study called the LA PrEP Stories Project, designed to solicit stories from and interviews with black and Latino MSM who are or are not on PrEP.

Vice

A US population-based qualitative study of 38 adults living in Virginia and Ohio set out to solicit stories of 'preventable problems with primary healthcare that led to physical or psychological harm'.

BMJ Open

In this quasi-conceptual piece Ms. Calle recovers from a nasty breakup by soliciting stories of suffering from others.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Hills set about making the fiction serious again, soliciting stories like "Nude Croquet" by Leslie Fiedler, a famously poisonous depiction of New York intellectuals, and Arthur Miller's decline-of-the-old-West parable, "The Misfits".

The New York Times - Books

When you don't actually have a magazine to show a writer what you're about, soliciting stories for it is not exactly easy.But Sheila was cool.

Vice

A dedicated task force, Operation New Year, is culling through CCTV footage and soliciting stories to track down suspects a slow process.

Vice

They launched website, sickrms.com, and solicited stories and responses from 612 missionaries who either came home early or, like Botcherby, faced debilitating health problems on their missions.

Huffington Post

Or is it soliciting "stories" in order to sell books, acquire new email addresses and demonstrate the reach of its current network?

Huffington Post

An article that I read yesterday on The Huffington Post alerted me to the fact that the JFK Memorial Library is soliciting stories from people of how President Kennedy inspired them.

Huffington Post

In 1964, Carey McWilliams, editor of the liberal political weekly, the Nation, wrote the struggling freelance reporter a letter soliciting a story on the insurgent band of motorcycle outlaws called the Hell's Angels.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When seeking a narrative, use clearer and more common phrases like "request a story" or "ask for a story" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't use the phrase "solicit story" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more direct and understandable alternatives like "request a story" or "seek a story".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "solicit story" functions primarily as a verb + noun construction, where "solicit" acts as a transitive verb needing a direct object. However, Ludwig AI indicates this combination is not standard English and lacks clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "solicit story" is not grammatically correct and is considered an awkward way to express the act of requesting a narrative. Ludwig AI confirms that it is not the clearest way to convey your intention. While a few sources use it, it's better to opt for more common and understandable alternatives like "request a story" or "ask for a story" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Using these alternatives improves communication and avoids potential confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request a story

A more direct and grammatically sound way to ask for a story.

ask for a story

Simple and common way to request a narrative.

solicit narratives

Uses a synonym for "story" making the request more formal.

seek a story

Implies searching for a story that already exists.

appeal for tales

Uses another synonym for "story" and conveys a sense of urgency or need.

commission a story

Suggests formally hiring someone to create a story.

put out a call for stories

An idiomatic way to announce that you are looking for stories.

gather accounts

Emphasizes the collection of stories from multiple sources.

invite submissions

Broadens the request to multiple stories from various sources.

collect anecdotes

Focuses on gathering short, personal stories.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "solicit story"?

Instead of "solicit story", try using phrases like "request a story", "ask for a story", or "seek a story", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "solicit story"?

No, the phrase "solicit story" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "request a story" or "ask for a story".

How can I use "solicit" correctly in a sentence related to stories?

You can use "solicit" with a noun that is more appropriate, for example: "solicit submissions" or "solicit narratives". It is better to not use "solicit" with the noun "story".

What does "solicit stories" mean?

"Solicit stories" means to ask for stories, often in a formal or official capacity. A better way to use the phrase is by saying "request stories" or "ask for stories".