to form a life

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to form a life" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of creating or establishing a life, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense. Example: "They decided to move to a new city to form a life together, filled with new experiences and opportunities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Instead, she's showing how they combine to form a life.

The New Yorker

Just because someone is a different color or from a different culture or is just beginning to form a life, that someone has a right to live and grow in freedom with all the dignity of a human being.

The New York Times

In adolescence, personally meaningful autobiographical memories begin to integrate into cultural narrative structures to form a life story.

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

Fox Carolina's Adrian Acosta recorded footage of a group of fire ants clinging together to form a life raft as they float on the water.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These include a fanciful idea that the forward grand stairway blasted almost intact out of the Titanic (like a space probe?) as the ship sank, to form a weird life raft that rode "a full story out of the water".

The New York Times - Books

Taking him for dead and needing to find a way to survive, they left to form a new life.

Huffington Post

It must be a tremendously enjoyable intellectual exercise paddling around in the seas of faraway worlds imagining life as a mist, or life that takes three millenniums to form a thought, or life based on liquid nitrogen.

The New York Times - Books

Among them: "I could have made a billion dollars doing every big comedy of the last 10 years and didn't, in order to form a whole other life for myself".

The Guardian - Film

"I could have made a billion dollars doing every big comedy of the last 10 years and didn't, in order to form a whole other life for myself.

Huffington Post

It invites entrants to create messages to form a digital portrait of life on Earth.

The Guardian

Added together, such numbers are likely to form a mosaic of your life.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to form a life", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. It often implies a deliberate act of creating or shaping one's existence, especially after a significant change or transition.

Common error

Avoid using "to form a life" in overly sentimental or cliché situations. While the phrase is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound insincere. Opt for more concrete verbs like "build", "create", or "establish" to add strength and specificity to your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to form a life" functions as an infinitive phrase, often serving as an object of a verb or as an adverbial modifier expressing purpose. It indicates the intention or process of creating or establishing a way of living.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to form a life" is a grammatically correct and usable infinitive phrase that describes the process of creating or establishing a way of living. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness. While not overly common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news media and scientific publications. Alternatives such as "to build a life" or "to create a life" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, consider the specific context and avoid overuse in overly sentimental situations to maintain clarity and sincerity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to build a life

Focuses on the construction and establishment of a life over time.

to create a life

Emphasizes the act of bringing a life into being, often from scratch.

to establish a life

Highlights the aspect of making a life stable and secure.

to shape a life

Suggests actively molding and influencing the direction of one's life.

to begin a life

Focuses on the commencement or starting point of a life.

to forge a life

Implies creating a life through hard work and determination.

to construct a life

Similar to 'build', but emphasizes a more deliberate and planned approach.

to develop a life

Suggests a gradual process of growth and improvement over time.

to cultivate a life

Emphasizes nurturing and fostering the growth of a fulfilling life.

to pioneer a life

Implies being the first to create a certain kind of life, often in challenging circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "to form a life" in a sentence?

You can use "to form a life" to describe the process of creating or establishing a way of living, such as "They moved to a new country /s/to+form+a+life, filled with new opportunities" or "She decided /s/to+form+a+life dedicated to helping others".

What can I say instead of "to form a life"?

You can use alternatives like "to build a life", "to create a life", or "to establish a life" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "forming a life"?

Yes, "forming a life" is grammatically correct, often used as a gerund or present participle. For example, "Forming a life in a new city can be challenging but rewarding".

What is the difference between "to form a life" and "to live a life"?

"To form a life" implies the process of creating or establishing a way of living, while "to live a life" refers to the experience of actually living it. One focuses on creation, the other on experience.