"solution to" vs "solution for"

[MrPedantic]

Hello Nessie,

1. The solution for X

If X is the person or thing that has the problem, #1 is fine. Thus in the BNC you'll find:

2. Scientists stress, however, that the best solution for Europe's butterflies would be to prevent further loss of habitat.

— i.e. the best solution from the point of view of Europe's butterflies.

If X is an outcome, #1 is also fine (also from the BNC):

3. This split barrier is an ideal solution for keeping out undesirables such as motorbikes while giving room for wheelchairs to pass through easily.

Also, where there is a "for" + infinitive structure (BNC):

4. It seemed a sensible solution for us to share this room.

— i.e. that we should share the room.

Also, where "for" relates to a pronoun (BNC):

5. We might conjecture that the general form of the solution for which we seek is as follows.

Or where "for" relates to time:

6. He thought about the solution for 10 minutes.

Or where "solution" relates to liquids, as in many of the BNC examples:

7. In the neophobia test (panel A) the subjects were allowed access to the saline solution for 10 min.

But in this kind of context, "solution for the problem" may sound odd to some people:

8. The solution for the problem is X.

Instead, they'll expect:

9. The solution to the problem is X.

To answer M's earlier question: if you say #8, some people will think "I wonder why he didn't say solution to". But if you say #9, no one will think "I wonder why he didn't say solution for".

All the best,

MrP

[Molly]

Nessie, if you say "who" when some people expect "whom", you'll survive. If you follow Mr P's every demand - which is just what his messages really carry - you'll not understand English usage beyond his idiolect/sociolect.

[MrPedantic]

[nessie]

[Molly]

Beware! Closet prescriptivists abound.

[Molly]

[nessie]

Yes, the world of English is very enormous, and people use it quite freely in real life (sometimes too freely), but truly speaking, I still prefer to use English the way it is used in schools (here I mean schools in English speaking countries)

Many can say I'm conservative and old-fashioned but anyway, I still think however English may develop, original features should be kept to make her remain... English
(by the way, though I'm only 18, I'm of classical style )

[Molly]

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

If you have a teacher who tells you, for example, that 'the lacking of' is a typical and standard expression in English, then you might want to look for a better teacher.
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_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[lost_soul]

[MrPedantic]

[MrPedantic]

[Molly]

[Molly]

Don't you love explanations that end with a doom-ridden warning? I find them quite funny, if somewhat out-of-touch.

[nessie]