support and assistance

USAGE SUMMARY

"support and assistance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to help or aid in a situation. For example: "The community was grateful for the support and assistance provided by the volunteers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Without secure or supportive employment or adequate income support and assistance, the consequences of these shocks compounded.

The Guardian

We've given concrete support and assistance".

The Guardian

We will offer whatever support and assistance we can.

The Guardian

"The school is providing support and assistance to the teacher, the student, and their family.

The Guardian

Both have offered to provide whatever support and assistance we ask for, as they always do.

The New York Times

They haven't got support and assistance to help them work to do their job more efficiently".

The Guardian

Where necessary, they provide ambulance support and assistance to the professionals to help things run smoothly.

The Guardian

Khan travels throughout Haryana trying to help these brides get access to legal support and assistance.

The Guardian

This year we are supporting six charities that provide support and assistance for refugees.

The Guardian

Staffordshire police said the force was offering support and assistance to G4S.

The Guardian - Business

A multinational approach, with strong support and assistance from the United States, was essential.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, "support and assistance" can be used to emphasize a comprehensive offering of help, covering both emotional and practical needs. This phrase is suitable for official reports, grant proposals and policy documents.

Common error

Avoid using "support and assistance" when either word alone sufficiently conveys the intended meaning. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider whether "support" or "assistance" alone is adequate, or if a stronger, more specific verb would be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "support and assistance" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. As noted by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English to denote help or aid in a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "support and assistance" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, intended to convey the provision of comprehensive help. It functions primarily as a noun phrase and serves the communicative purpose of offering aid and resources. Predominantly found in contexts such as news, science, and business, this phrase maintains a neutral to formal register. When using "support and assistance", remember that while it is correct, be mindful of potential redundancy and ensure its usage enhances rather than detracts from your writing. Alternatives such as "aid and support" or "help and aid" can provide variety while maintaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aid and support

Reverses the order of the words while retaining the same meaning.

assistance and support

Swaps the order of "support" and "assistance" for a slight variation.

help and aid

Substitutes "support" with "help", keeping the core meaning intact.

help and support

Replaces "assistance" with "help", offering a simpler alternative.

backing and aid

Replaces "support" with "backing", implying a more active form of help.

resources and aid

Focuses on the provision of resources in addition to assistance.

guidance and aid

Emphasizes direction and advice as forms of support.

care and support

Highlights the caring aspect of providing help.

comfort and aid

Focuses on the emotional aspect of support and assistance.

facilitation and aid

Emphasizes enabling actions and promoting progress.

FAQs

How can I use "support and assistance" in a sentence?

You can use "support and assistance" to describe the act of providing help. For example, "The organization offers "financial support" and assistance to families in need."

What are some alternatives to using "support and assistance"?

Depending on the context, you could use "aid and support", "help and aid", or "assistance and support". These alternatives offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

Is there a difference between "support" and "assistance"?

"Support" often refers to emotional or general help, while "assistance" usually implies more direct or practical help. Using both terms together, as in "support and assistance", emphasizes a comprehensive approach to helping someone.

When is it appropriate to use "support and assistance" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "support and assistance" in formal or professional contexts where you want to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the help being offered. It's also suitable when both emotional and practical aid are relevant.