wish

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'wish' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a desire or hope for something, or to express regret that something is not the case. Example sentence: I wish I had more time to spend with my family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think it's for women to make a choice about what clothes they wish to wear, if they wish to wear a veil that is for a woman to make a choice.

The Guardian

I wish them well.

The New York Times - Arts

I wish I could".

The New York Times

That wish to pass something on is about the most basic, human and natural instinct there is.

The Guardian

We owe him a great deal and wish him every possible success.

The Guardian

I wish we were having the election at the end of the debate, not instead of the debate.

The Guardian

I wish you would.

The Guardian

They should be careful what they wish for.

The New York Times

Perhaps they should beware of what they wish for.

The Economist

"We just want to wish him well and his job is still here when he's feeling better".

The Guardian

I wish it was".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing good will, follow "wish" with the person you are addressing. Example: "I wish you well."

Common error

Avoid using "wish" with the future tense when expressing a desire; instead, use the subjunctive mood. For example, instead of "I wish it will happen", say "I wish it would happen".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wish" is as a verb to express a desire, hope, or regret. Ludwig AI indicates its correct usage and provides numerous examples where "wish" acts as the main verb in a sentence, expressing desires or intentions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "wish" functions primarily as a verb to express desires, hopes, or regrets. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, highlighting its prevalence across various contexts. With a neutral register, "wish" appears frequently in news, media, and formal settings. To express alternatives or further nuance, consider using "desire", "hope", or "long for". When crafting content, remember that "wish" is most effective when expressing desires contrary to present facts or regrets about the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desire

Focuses on the feeling of wanting something.

desire greatly

Emphasizes the intensity of the desire.

hope

Emphasizes a positive expectation of something happening.

hope earnestly

Highlights the sincerity and strength of the hope.

long for

Conveys a strong feeling of wanting something, often something difficult to attain.

have a longing for

Expresses a continuous feeling of wanting something.

yearn for

Similar to "long for" but often implies a deeper, more emotional longing.

hold a desire

Emphasizes the existence and persistence of the desire.

aspire to

Indicates a goal or ambition one is striving towards.

crave

Suggests a strong and urgent desire, often for something specific.

FAQs

How can I use "wish" to express regret about the past?

To express regret about a past situation, use "wish" followed by the past perfect tense. For instance, "I wish I had known" indicates regret for not knowing something in the past.

What are some alternatives to saying "I wish"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "I hope", "I desire", or "If only" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "I wish that I will"?

No, it's generally incorrect. Instead of "I wish that I will", it is more appropriate to say "I wish that I would" to express a desire or hope for something in the future.

What's the difference between "I hope" and "I wish"?

"I hope" expresses a reasonable expectation or possibility, while "I wish" often implies a desire for something unlikely or contrary to the present situation. For example, "I hope it rains tomorrow" suggests a possibility, whereas "I wish it would rain" suggests a desire for rain when it's unlikely.