to declare support for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to declare support for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing endorsement or backing for a person, cause, or idea. Example: "The organization decided to declare support for the new environmental initiative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Her first order: to declare support for a candidate for prime minister.

The New York Times

And Mayor Giuliani's ceremonial greeting of Mr. Chen, and his plan to declare support for an independent Taiwan, worries them.

The New York Times

· Former vice-president Al Gore emerges from internal exile at the weekend to declare support for President Bush.

The Guardian

So far, the protesters have managed to remain apolitical, refusing to declare support for any leader or to be hijacked by any political party.

The New York Times

One step that would be highly welcome in Brazil would be for Obama to declare support for Brazil's quest for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

The New York Times

By any definition, Wednesday 10 May 2012 was a seminal day for the civil rights movement in the United States: the first sitting president to declare support for gay marriage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The proposal was initially accepted by Babić, who then expressed reservations about the Z-4 Plan as a political settlement when he was asked to publicly declare support for the Stoltenberg proposal (so the Novaković delegation would follow his lead).

Wikipedia

Journalists noted the rapidness of how quickly Tory MPs went from privately expressing shock at George Osborne's appointment as editor of the Evening Standard to publicly declaring support for him to stay as an MP.

The Guardian

In total, as many as 35 federations are believed to have declared support for Ceferin.

The Guardian - Sport

Last month as hundreds of hopefuls registered to stand for election, Khatami declined to run and declared support for Rafsanjani, who put his name forward but was disqualified on the grounds that he was too "feeble" to govern the country.

The Guardian

Michael Palin, another patron, was one of 200 signatories from the arts and academia to a letter declaring support for the system.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to declare support for", ensure that the context clearly indicates who is declaring the support and for whom or what the support is being declared. For example, "The senator chose to declare support for the bill after careful consideration."

Common error

While acceptable, using "to declare support for" repeatedly can sound overly formal. Vary your language by using synonyms like "to express backing for" or "to voice support for" to create a more engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to declare support for" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as part of a larger verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used, functioning to introduce the action of publicly endorsing something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to declare support for" is a grammatically correct and common infinitive phrase used to express public endorsement or approval. Ludwig's analysis indicates it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. While versatile, consider using synonyms like "to express support for" or "to voice support for" to avoid repetition and maintain an engaging tone. When employing the phrase, ensure clarity regarding who is declaring support and for whom or what the support is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to express support for

Focuses on the act of conveying support, emphasizing the communication aspect.

to voice support for

Highlights the audible or public expression of support.

to announce support for

Emphasizes a formal or official communication of support.

to affirm support for

Suggests a confirmation or reinforcement of existing support.

to pledge support for

Implies a commitment or promise of support.

to show endorsement for

Focuses on demonstrating approval or backing.

to register support for

Highlights the action of formally recording support.

to profess support for

Suggests a declaration of support, often with strong conviction.

to proclaim support for

Emphasizes a public and often enthusiastic declaration of support.

to advocate for

Focuses on actively promoting and defending a cause or person.

FAQs

What does "to declare support for" mean?

The phrase "to declare support for" means to publicly announce or express your backing, approval, or endorsement of someone or something, such as a person, cause, idea, or policy.

What can I say instead of "to declare support for"?

You can use alternatives like "to express support for", "to voice support for", or "to pledge support for" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "to declare support for" or "to show support for"?

Both "to declare support for" and "to show support for" are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "To declare support for" implies a more public or formal announcement, while "to show support for" suggests demonstrating backing through actions or gestures. The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I use "to declare support for" in a sentence?

You can use "to declare support for" in a sentence like this: "The organization decided to declare support for the new environmental initiative", or "Several senators chose to declare support for the candidate". Be sure to specify who is declaring support and for whom or what.