struggle for

USAGE SUMMARY

"struggle for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "struggle for" when you are talking about someone trying to achieve something or trying to obtain something through effort. For example: "She is struggling for a better understanding of her homework."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both struggle for funding.

The Guardian

Struggle for Freedom.

The New York Times - Books

It ended the struggle for Chilean independence.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"My father waged the struggle for peace".

The New York Times

To disengage is a struggle — for me.

The New York Times

The struggle for power has not ended.

The New York Times

"This is a big struggle for us".

The New York Times

Prefer not to struggle for your tipple?

The New York Times - Travel

The Struggle for the schools.

University of California, Berkeley

Struggle for life or death..

Yale University

That's a struggle for me".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "struggle for" when you want to emphasize the effort and difficulty involved in achieving a goal, particularly when facing opposition or obstacles. For example: "They struggled for equal rights."

Common error

Avoid using "struggle for" when a simpler verb like "seek" or "try" would suffice. Using "struggle for" can sometimes over-dramatize situations where the effort isn't particularly arduous. For example, instead of "He struggled for a pen", simply say "He looked for a pen".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struggle for" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and highlights its prevalence in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

31%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "struggle for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey the effort and difficulty in pursuing a goal, which, according to Ludwig AI, is correct and usable in written English. It is versatile across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science, while maintaining a generally neutral to formal register. Related phrases like "strive for" and "fight for" offer similar meanings, with slight nuances. When using "struggle for", ensure it aptly describes the level of effort involved to avoid over-dramatization, and consider it especially useful in conveying challenges and perseverance. The phrase is common across a wide array of authoritative sources, demonstrating its broad acceptance and usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fight for

Highlights the confrontational aspect of the struggle, implying opposition or resistance.

strive for

Highlights the effort and determination involved in pursuing a goal, omitting any connotation of competition.

compete for

Focuses more directly on the act of competing, highlighting the competitive aspect of the effort.

vie for

Similar to compete, but often implies a more intense or zealous competition.

press for

Indicates a persistent and determined effort to achieve something, often in the face of obstacles.

contend for

Emphasizes the act of contending or arguing a point in pursuit of a goal.

push for

Suggests actively promoting or advocating for something, which may involve struggle.

work towards

Implies gradual and sustained effort toward a specific objective, often without direct conflict.

endeavor to

A more formal way of expressing the attempt to achieve something, suggesting a dedicated effort.

pursue

Focuses on the act of following or seeking something, without necessarily implying difficulty or conflict.

FAQs

What does "struggle for" mean?

The phrase "struggle for" means to make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or resist opposition; to engage in a physical or mental conflict or contest; or to proceed with difficulty or with great effort.

How can I use "struggle for" in a sentence?

You can use "struggle for" to describe efforts to achieve something in the face of difficulty or opposition. For example, "They "fought for" their independence" or "She "strived for" excellence".

What are some alternatives to "struggle for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "compete for", "strive for", or "fight for". Each of these alternatives emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the effort involved.

When is it more appropriate to use "fight for" instead of "struggle for"?

While both phrases imply effort and difficulty, "fight for" suggests a more direct and confrontational approach, often involving opposition. "Struggle for" can be used in broader contexts where the effort may not necessarily involve direct conflict but still presents significant challenges.