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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Word Check: Craving vs.Craving For


The word "crave" is a verb that is synonymous to need, desire and want. If one says, "I am craving for chocolate cake", then it's pretty much the same as saying "I am desiring for chocolate cake".


If  Meriam-Webster were to be followed, then the proper use of "crave" with an object would be: "I am craving chocolate cake". Drop the preposition "for". If it were to be used in the simple present tense, then it would be just fine to say, "I crave chocolate cake".

On the other hand, "craving" is a noun (although "crave" isn't!). It can be paired with "for" if it is used as an object, not as an action. Hence, "I have a craving for chocolate cake".

I know it sounds awkward, but people get the hang of it eventually.

Cheers!
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Posted by This Writer at 1:19 PM

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