to secure support

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to secure support" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of obtaining assistance or backing from individuals, groups, or organizations. Example: "The organization launched a campaign to secure support for its new initiative aimed at environmental conservation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In my opinion, the Conservative government wants to push through this bill in order to secure support from their Evangelical base and their social conservative supporters prior to the next election," she said.

Vice

In his remarks in Baghdad before flying to Washington, Mr. Maliki made clear that his priority was to secure support for sale of American arms and other forms of security assistance.

The New York Times

She reneged on that in order to secure support from the Greens for her minority government.

Independent

So far, the pro-independence camp has struggled to secure support of much more than 30%.

The Economist

Hard to draft, hard to enforce, hard to secure support from central European countries.

Independent

But, Mr. Bennett added, "it would have made it more difficult to secure support for it".

The New York Times

Sukhdev, is speaking at 20 events at Rio to secure support for the campaign.

The Guardian

The government promised its lenders it would implement this, but it has to secure support in parliament.

The Economist

"They worked hard to secure support, and in the end they barely got a majority for these three people.

The New York Times - Tech

The simplest – from a negotiating point of view – is to secure support from either Labor or the Greens.

The Guardian

He was forced to call the January election early after he failed to secure support for an austerity budget.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing persuasive content, identify the specific needs and concerns of your audience to effectively demonstrate how your proposal benefits them. This tailored approach significantly increases your chances "to secure support".

Common error

Instead of broadly stating a need "to secure support", clearly articulate the specific type of support required (e.g., financial backing, public endorsement, volunteer assistance) and the intended purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to secure support" functions primarily as an infinitive phrase indicating purpose. It often follows a verb of action, explaining the reason or intention behind that action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to secure support" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate the purpose of obtaining assistance, approval, or resources. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedic content, and scientific writing. While versatile, it’s important to consider more specific synonyms depending on the desired nuance and the nature of the support being sought, such as "to obtain backing" or "to garner assistance". When using the phrase, clarity is key; clearly define the type of support needed to avoid vagueness. The high frequency and authoritative sources confirm its widespread acceptance and proper usage in formal and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to obtain backing

Emphasizes gaining approval or endorsement, suggesting a more formal agreement.

to garner assistance

Highlights the effort involved in collecting support, implying active seeking.

to win approval

Focuses specifically on gaining acceptance or agreement for a proposal or action.

to rally endorsement

Suggests gathering public support or a formal declaration of approval.

to solicit aid

Implies a direct request for help, often financial or material.

to cultivate patronage

Suggests building long-term relationships to ensure ongoing support, often financial.

to lock in funding

Focuses specifically on guaranteeing financial resources for a project or venture.

to ensure cooperation

Highlights the need for collaborative effort and agreement among different parties.

to cement alliance

Implies creating a strong and lasting partnership for mutual benefit.

to guarantee resources

Focuses on ensuring the availability of necessary materials or assets.

FAQs

How can I use "to secure support" in a sentence?

You can use "to secure support" to describe the act of obtaining assistance or approval. For example, "The organization launched a campaign "to secure support" for its new environmental initiative".

What are some alternatives to "to secure support"?

Alternatives include phrases like "to obtain backing", "to garner assistance", or "to win approval", each with slightly different connotations.

How does "to secure support" differ from "to ensure support"?

"To secure support" implies actively obtaining support, while "to ensure support" suggests guaranteeing that existing support continues. The former is about acquisition, the latter about maintenance.

Is it better to use "to gain support" or "to secure support"?

Both are correct, but "to gain support" might be slightly more general, while "to secure support" suggests a more deliberate and strategic effort to obtain that support.