to foster

USAGE SUMMARY

"to foster" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used in both formal and informal writing. For example: The organization works to foster community engagement among its members.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He returned to foster care in 2009.

The New York Times

That has helped to foster steady growth.

The Economist

Others go to foster care.

The New York Times

"It needs to foster water-cooler conversation.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet Lee did much to foster reconciliation.

The New York Times

"We want to foster that curiosity.

The New York Times

Often they bounced from foster home to foster home.

The New York Times

This is to foster audiences that are mostly kids.

The New York Times - Arts

But this is unlikely to foster longer-term development.

The Economist

It takes some social engineering to foster serendipity and creativity.

The New York Times

"That does nothing to foster the relationship with the patient".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to foster" when you want to express the idea of actively helping something to grow, develop, or succeed. It is suitable for a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to business strategies.

Common error

Avoid using "to foster" in contexts where the outcome is negative or undesirable. "Foster" typically implies positive growth and development, so using it with negative outcomes can create a contradictory or confusing statement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to foster" is that of an infinitive phrase often used to express purpose or intention. As seen in Ludwig, it connects an action to its desired outcome, clarifying what something aims to achieve.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

20%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

16%

Arts

6%

Sports

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to foster" is a versatile infinitive phrase used to express the intention to nurture, promote, or encourage growth and development. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and it sees frequent use across various authoritative sources, notably in news, business, and encyclopedic contexts. While appropriate for various registers, avoid using it with negative connotations, as "foster" typically implies positive growth. Alternatives like "to cultivate" or "to promote" can offer subtle variations in meaning. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "to foster" to enhance your writing and clearly communicate your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to cultivate

Focuses more on careful development and growth.

to promote

Emphasizes actively encouraging and supporting something.

to encourage

Highlights giving support, confidence, or hope.

to nurture

Suggests providing care and attention to aid development.

to stimulate

Implies inciting or arousing activity or development.

to advance

Focuses on furthering progress or improvement.

to develop

Indicates a gradual growth or evolution.

to facilitate

Emphasizes making an action or process easier.

to instigate

Implies initiating or provoking an action or event.

to generate

Focuses on creating or producing something.

FAQs

How can I use "to foster" in a sentence?

"To foster" is an infinitive phrase indicating purpose. For example, "The company aims "to foster innovation" through its research programs."

What are some alternatives to "to foster"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "to cultivate", "to promote", or "to encourage" as alternatives to "to foster".

Is it correct to say "foster growth" or "foster to grow"?

"Foster growth" is a correct usage, where "foster" acts as a verb and "growth" is the noun being fostered. "Foster to grow" is grammatically incorrect; the correct infinitive form is "to foster growth".

What is the difference between "to foster" and "to facilitate"?

"To foster" implies actively promoting growth or development, while "to facilitate" means to make something easier or more likely to happen. Fostering is more proactive than facilitating.