to help her

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to help her" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing the intention or purpose of assisting someone, specifically a female individual. Example: "He volunteered to help her with the project after she expressed feeling overwhelmed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Helen moved to help her.

The New Yorker

Nobody tries to help her.

Independent

"We have to help her".

The New York Times - Magazine

"We wanted to help her.

The New York Times - Health

Neighbors have pitched in to help her.

The New York Times

Her friends came to help her paint.

The New York Times

"We have to try to help her".

The New Yorker

Making plans to help her spend it.

Independent

Like, I was trying to help her".

Independent

"You want to help her.

The New York Times - Magazine

I tried to help her.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to help her", ensure the context clearly indicates who "her" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For example, "He volunteered "to help her" with the project after she expressed feeling overwhelmed."

Common error

Avoid using "to help her" without clearly establishing who "her" is within the immediate context. If the referent is not obvious, rephrase for clarity. For example, instead of "I went "to help her"," specify, "I went "to help Jane"."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to help her" serves as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. It functions as an adverbial modifier, explaining why someone is performing an action. This is supported by Ludwig examples showing the phrase in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to help her" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates the purpose of assisting a female individual. Ludwig confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It is commonly found in news articles and other media, with a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the referent of "her" is clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "to assist her" or "to support her" for slightly more formal tones. The phrase is a straightforward and effective way to communicate intention, as validated by its numerous examples in Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to give her assistance

Similar to providing assistance, but uses the verb "give" to offer aid.

to provide assistance to her

Replaces the verb "help" with the noun phrase "provide assistance", making it slightly more formal.

in order to assist her

More formal phrasing of the original query, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

for the purpose of assisting her

This option is more formal, replacing "help" with "assist" and adding "for the purpose of".

to offer her support

Focuses on offering emotional or practical support.

so as to support her

This alternative emphasizes providing support rather than direct help. It also changes the verb.

with the aim of aiding her

This phrasing uses "aiding" instead of "helping" and "with the aim of" to indicate purpose.

to be of assistance to her

Changes the structure to focus on being helpful, rather than directly helping.

to lend a hand to her

An idiomatic expression meaning to help, but less formal.

to back her up

This suggests providing support or reinforcement, potentially in a challenging situation.

FAQs

How can I use "to help her" in a sentence?

Use "to help her" when you want to express the purpose of assisting a female individual. For instance, "He offered "to help her" carry the groceries."

What are some alternatives to "to help her"?

Alternatives include "to assist her", "to support her", or "to aid her", depending on the specific context and the nature of the assistance being provided.

When is it appropriate to use "to help her" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "to help her" in both formal and informal writing when you want to clearly and concisely state the intention of providing assistance to a female individual. Make sure the pronoun "her" has a clear referent.

Is "to help her" grammatically correct?

Yes, "to help her" is grammatically correct. It is a common and widely accepted way to express the purpose of assisting a female individual. This is also validated by Ludwig.