tend

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "tend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb meaning "to take care of something regularly" or "to look after or take charge of something." For example: "Alice tends to the garden every morning before work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"People tend to like a leader they feel is economically competent".

The Guardian

Leaders' speeches at conferences tend to be a little light on detail, particularly when it comes to policy.

The Guardian - Opinion

The things I watch tend to have huge plot holes, coinciding with the stretches I've slept through.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But it's less replicated over the pond, where sitcoms tend to be ensemble jobs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Still, historically, voters in the region tend to elect moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans, including one Republican, Rod Grams, that publicly flirted with both parties.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hospital admissions at weekends are different – they rarely come from outpatient clinics, which are held on weekdays: most are emergency admissions and tend to be more serious.

The Guardian - Opinion

Such things tend to put to shame what went before but it has already become a familiar story.

The Guardian - Sport

Australians tend to have a preconceived idea of what Aboriginal Australia is meant to look like Wayne Quilliam "Whenever I'm creating a show for Australia, I tend to find – and this is just a general rule – that Australians have a preconceived idea of what Aboriginal Australia is meant to look like, meant to act, meant to sound," he says.

The Guardian - Arts

I know from friends who have a much longer claim-free period, that the savings tend to tail off".

The Guardian - Money

The recommendations tend to be published towards the end of the financial year.

The Guardian

The egalitarians don't tend to win these policy debates.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tend" to express a recurring or habitual action, rather than a one-time event. For example, "People tend to be more cautious during economic downturns" highlights a common behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "tend" when you want to convey a definite outcome. "Tend" implies a likelihood, not a certainty. If you want to express a definite outcome, use "will" or "is going to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tend" is as an intransitive verb, indicating a propensity or likelihood to behave in a certain way. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses a general inclination rather than a definitive action, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "tend" is a commonly used term to indicate a likelihood or general inclination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appears frequently in neutral contexts, particularly within News & Media. When writing, remember that "tend" implies a probability, not a certainty. Alternatives like "likely" or "prone to" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Avoiding overstatement when using "tend" will ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a tendency to

A more explicit way of stating that something is a recurring behavior.

be inclined to

Expresses a natural disposition or inclination towards something.

have a habit of

Emphasizes a recurring and often unconscious pattern of behavior.

be apt to

Suggests a natural tendency or likelihood, similar to "be inclined to".

be given to

Suggests a habitual practice or inclination, often related to specific actions.

lean towards

Suggests a preference or inclination in a particular direction or viewpoint.

be prone to

Highlights a susceptibility or vulnerability to something, often negative.

be predisposed to

Indicates a higher likelihood of experiencing something due to inherent characteristics.

be liable to

Implies a risk or potential for something to happen, usually undesirable.

be wont to

An archaic way of saying someone is accustomed to doing something.

FAQs

How can I use "tend" in a sentence?

You can use "tend" to express that something is likely to happen or that someone has a habit of doing something. For example, "Prices tend to rise during the summer" or "He tends to overreact in stressful situations".

What can I say instead of "tend" to indicate a strong likelihood?

If you want to express a stronger likelihood than "tend" suggests, you could use alternatives like "likely", "prone to", or "apt to".

Is it correct to say "tend to will"?

No, "tend to will" is not grammatically correct. "Tend" already implies a likelihood or inclination, so adding "will" is redundant. Use "tend to" followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "tend to do").

What's the difference between "tend" and "intent"?

"Tend" means to be likely to do something or to take care of something, while "intent" refers to a purpose or intention. For example, "I tend to get sleepy after lunch" (likely to get sleepy) versus "It is my intent to finish this project today" (purpose to finish the project).