sought him for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sought him for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone was pursued or searched for a specific purpose or reason, often in a context of seeking assistance or information. Example: "The detective sought him for information about the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Those countries had sought him for the killings of their citizens during the dictatorship.

The New York Times

Prosecutors in the United States have sought him for what they describe as "the biggest military hack of all time".

Independent

"The Manhattan D.A. had sought him for questioning and under our advice, he refused to answer any questions," Mr. Michelen wrote.

The New York Times

The prospect of injury or illness forcing him to surrender would be tantalizing for NATO, which has sought him for eight years.

The New York Times

McAfee has expressed fears that he was the attackers intended target and reportedly buried himself in sand when Belize police sought him for questioning in the case.

The Guardian

The girl's husband, a soldier in the Afghan National Army who had served in Helmand Province and who fled as the police sought him for questioning, was still at large.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But prosecutors, who jailed Mr. Gusinsky briefly in the summer on charges of embezzlement, said today that they had reopened that case and were seeking him for questioning.

The New York Times

The state police and the Westchester district attorney had been seeking him for a year to go over his account of his last night with his wife, the night she vanished.

The New York Times

Mr. Kopp, who was well-known in militant anti-abortion circles by his nickname, Atomic Dog, disappeared about two weeks after the Slepian killing and one day before prosecutors issued a material witness warrant seeking him for questioning.

The New York Times

"Younger pilots would seek him for their line checks because he was easy to talk to," the pilot said.

Huffington Post

He noticed how teammates sought him out for advice — pitchers asking what to throw, hitters asking what to look for at the plate.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sought him for", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for seeking the person. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions like "sought him after" or "sought him about". The correct preposition is "for" to indicate the reason for seeking the person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sought him for" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive verb followed by a pronoun and a preposition. According to Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound. It indicates an action performed by someone (or some entity) directed towards a specific person, with the preposition "for" introducing the reason or purpose behind the action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

19%

Science

18%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sought him for" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates someone was being looked for with a specific purpose. It's most commonly found in news reports, encyclopedias, and academic writing, giving it a formal tone. According to Ludwig, this is a valid English construction. When using this phrase, ensure that the context makes clear why the person was being sought. While alternatives like "looked for him because of" exist, "sought him for" maintains a level of formality suitable for professional and neutral communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looked for him because of

This alternative specifies the reason for searching more directly, adding clarity to the motive.

searched for him regarding

This option is more formal and emphasizes the subject matter of the search.

tried to find him to

This suggests an active attempt to locate the person for a particular reason.

was after him due to

This implies a pursuit, often suggesting a negative or urgent reason.

went looking for him concerning

This describes a deliberate action of searching with a specific matter in mind.

made inquiries about him related to

This involves asking questions to gather information about the person in connection to a certain issue.

investigated him with respect to

This indicates a formal investigation into the person's involvement or connection.

pursued him in connection with

This suggests a determined effort to follow or track the person, often related to a legal matter.

demanded his presence for

This implies a forceful request for the person to appear or be available for a specific purpose.

petitioned for his extradition regarding

This specifically refers to a formal request to have the person returned to a jurisdiction for legal proceedings.

FAQs

What does "sought him for" mean?

The phrase "sought him for" means that someone was looking for a person for a specific reason, such as questioning, assistance, or to hold them accountable for something. For example, "The police "sought him for" questioning about the robbery".

What are some alternatives to "sought him for"?

Alternatives include phrases like "looked for him because of", "searched for him regarding", or "tried to find him to", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "sought after him for" instead of "sought him for"?

No, "sought after him for" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "sought him for", where "sought" directly precedes the pronoun.

Can "sought him for" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

While "sought him for" is generally suitable for formal and neutral contexts like news reports and official statements, it might sound slightly formal in very informal settings. In those cases, consider using more casual alternatives like "looked for him because of".