to turn for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to turn for" is not correct and usable in written English without additional context.
It may be used in phrases like "to turn for help" or "to turn for guidance," indicating seeking assistance or direction. Example: "When faced with difficult decisions, many people turn for advice to their trusted friends."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Where to turn for help?

The New York Times

They had nowhere to turn for help.

The New York Times

There were few places to turn for optimism.

The New York Times - Sports

Survivors didn't know where to turn for authority.

The New York Times - Arts

How can parents know where to turn for help?

The New York Times

"We don't know where to turn for help".

The Guardian

"But we know it's going to turn for us".

The New York Times - Sports

It had nowhere to turn for security but to America.

The New York Times

In fact, without the Jets, HBO may have nowhere to turn for a second straight season.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, there are few places for women to turn for balanced advice on the matter.

The New York Times

Conditions expected to turn for the worse as a thunderstorm is expected in mid-afternoon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always add a noun after the phrase "to turn for" to clearly indicate what is being sought, such as "to turn for help", "to turn for advice", or "to turn for support".

Common error

Avoid using "to turn for" without specifying what one is turning to the source for. This omission can make the sentence grammatically incomplete and confusing. For example, instead of writing "They didn't know where to turn for", specify what they needed: "They didn't know where to turn for help".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to turn for" functions as a prepositional phrase requiring a noun to complete its meaning. It indicates the action of seeking something, typically assistance, guidance, or support, from a particular source. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is incorrect in written english without additional context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

19%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "to turn for" is frequently used, Ludwig AI indicates that it requires a noun to complete its meaning and be grammatically correct. It commonly appears in contexts where individuals or entities are seeking help, advice, or support. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for news, business, and general writing, remember to add the necessary object to the phrase to avoid grammatical errors. Common authoritative sources for this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to seek assistance from

This alternative emphasizes the act of actively seeking help from someone or something. It focuses on the effort made to obtain support.

to look to for help

This phrase highlights the act of directing one's attention or reliance towards a specific source for aid or guidance.

to resort to for support

This option suggests that other options have been exhausted, and the source is now being used as a last resort.

to direct oneself to for aid

This phrase is a more formal way of saying to seek help, emphasizing the conscious decision to go to a particular source.

to rely on for guidance

This phrase highlights the dependence on a specific source for direction and advice, suggesting trust in that source's expertise.

to appeal to for aid

This alternative suggests making a formal request for assistance, often when in a difficult situation.

to apply to for assistance

This phrase emphasizes the act of formally requesting help from an organization or authority.

to gravitate towards for solutions

This implies a natural inclination or tendency to seek answers or resolutions from a specific entity or resource.

to shift focus toward for resolution

This alternative refers to changing one's attention towards a specific source to find a solution to a problem.

to be on the lookout for

This refers to watching or searching to find a specific thing that helps to solve a problem.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "to turn for" in a sentence?

Always specify what you are turning to something or someone for. For example, use phrases like "to turn "to turn for help"", "to turn "to turn for advice"", or "to turn "to turn for support"".

What are some alternatives to "to turn for"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "to seek assistance from", "to look to for help", or "to resort to for support".

Is it grammatically correct to say "to turn for" without specifying what one is seeking?

No, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect or incomplete. The phrase requires an object to clarify what is being sought, such as help, advice, or guidance.

Which is more appropriate: "to turn for assistance" or "to seek assistance"?

Both are valid, but "to seek assistance" is often more direct and concise. "To turn for assistance" implies a specific direction or source to which one is going for that assistance.