support toward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "support toward" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing assistance or backing directed at a specific goal or direction, but "support for" is more standard. Example: "We need to provide support toward the development of sustainable practices in our community."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said that he detected "strong political support toward Greece" among the other E.U. leaders.

The New York Times

The center will also provide major support toward commissioning a new Ailey work each year.

The New York Times

He said that he detected "strong political support toward Greece" among the European leaders.

The New York Times

But there was no sign of any wholesale shift in support toward Mr. Obama on Friday.

The New York Times

"Why is there such support toward other communities and not us?" he said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times

By contrast, the American government let the Israel lobby shift the balance of United States support toward the stronger of the two parties: Israel.

The New York Times

But even retirees with higher monthly incomes, up to $844 for an individual and $1,126 for a couple, can qualify for some support toward Medicare.

The New York Times

Then Torre continued tilting his support toward the Yankees by saying he had affection for the people "who busted their back for you all those years".

The New York Times - Sports

The United States and the European Union also cut their financial support toward the election, saying the election was flawed from the start.

The New York Times

But city officials are not yet prepared to meet the museum's request for $750,000 in annual operating support toward its $5 million budget.

The New York Times

However, changes in domestic and agricultural policies, along with a lack of government support toward farmers, has increased the country's reliance on imports over the years.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "support toward", ensure that the context clearly indicates a specific direction, aim, or goal that the support is intended to facilitate. Vague or general statements of support are usually better expressed with "support for".

Common error

Avoid using "support toward" in situations where general endorsement or approval is intended. While grammatically correct, it can sound awkward. Instead, reserve "support toward" for cases where there is a specific target or direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "support toward" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun and indicating the direction or target of the support. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is used to specify what the support is aimed at.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically sound, the phrase "support toward" is frequently perceived as less natural than the more common "support for". Ludwig AI shows it appears in diverse contexts including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business, although its usage is less prevalent in encyclopedic or wiki sources. It is generally used to indicate assistance directed at a specific goal. Given Ludwig's observation that "support toward" is acceptable, but might sound awkward, opting for "support for" or other alternatives might be a better strategy when writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

support for

A more common and generally preferred alternative, indicating general assistance or approval.

assistance for

Focuses on providing help or resources for a specific purpose or goal.

help with

A general term for providing assistance or support for a task or activity.

contribution to

Suggests providing something, such as resources or effort, to help achieve a common goal.

aid in direction of

Emphasizes assistance that guides or influences a particular course or path.

resources for

Emphasizes providing materials, funds, or other assets to facilitate a specific project or goal.

backing to achieve

Highlights the act of endorsing or promoting something to accomplish a specific outcome.

encouragement for

Focuses on inspiring and motivating someone to pursue a particular course of action.

service to

Implies offering assistance or labor to benefit a particular person or cause.

sponsorship of

Highlights providing financial or material support for an event, organization, or individual.

FAQs

Is "support toward" grammatically correct?

Yes, "support toward" is grammatically acceptable, but it's often considered less common and can sometimes sound awkward compared to alternatives like "support for".

When is it appropriate to use "support toward"?

Use "support toward" when you want to emphasize the direction or goal that the support is intended to facilitate. For example, "financial support toward research" suggests that the funds are specifically allocated for research purposes.

What are some alternatives to "support toward"?

Common alternatives include "support for", "assistance with", "contribution to", and "help with". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference in meaning between "support toward" and "support for"?

While both phrases indicate assistance or endorsement, "support toward" often implies a specific direction or aim, whereas "support for" is generally broader and more general. However, the difference is subtle, and "support for" is generally preferred.