solicit for

Writers often add an unnecessary preposition after solicit-usually for-producing phrases like "solicit for donations." In standard English solicit is transitive: it takes a direct object (you solicit something), so the for is redundant in most contexts.

Quick answer

Don't write "solicit for" when the thing you want follows the verb. Use solicit + object (solicit donations), solicit + object + from + source (solicit donations from alumni), or use ask for / request / seek depending on tone.

Correct: The organization solicited donations.
Also correct: The organization solicited donations from alumni.
Clearer/informal: The organization asked for donations.
Avoid: The organization solicited for donations.

Core explanation: why "solicit for" is usually wrong

Solicit is usually transitive: it already names the direct object. Adding for duplicates that role and sounds redundant or nonstandard in formal English.

If you need to name the source, use from: solicit X from Y. For friendlier or plainer language, use ask for or request.

Transitive: solicit + object (solicit donations, solicit feedback)
If naming source: solicit X from Y (solicit donations from alumni)
When in doubt, rephrase: ask for donations / request feedback

Wrong → Right: Incorrect: We solicited for advice.
Correct: We solicited advice.
Alternative: We asked for advice.
Wrong → Right: Incorrect: The team solicited for help from partners.
Correct: The team solicited help from partners.

Real usage: choose solicit, ask for, request, or seek

Each verb fits a different tone and context. Pick the one that matches formality and intent.

Solicit: formal-fundraising, procurement, legal, grants (solicit donations, solicit bids).
Ask for / request: plain and friendly-emails, notices, classroom messages.
Seek: implies an active or ongoing pursuit (seek funding, seek advice).

Formal/fundraising/legal: solicit donations, solicit bids, solicit proposals
Neutral/plain: ask for donations, request feedback
Ongoing pursuit: seek funding, seek input

Usage: Fundraising report: The foundation solicited $250,000 in unrestricted gifts last quarter.
Usage: Neighborhood post: We're asking for donations of canned food this weekend.

Examples: Work - ready-to-use office rewrites (3)

Each entry shows the incorrect sentence, a professional rewrite, and a conversational alternative when useful.

Work:
Incorrect: The department is soliciting for feedback on the new process.
Correct: The department is soliciting feedback on the new process.
Alternative: The department is asking for feedback on the new process.
Work:
Incorrect: We are soliciting for bids from three suppliers.
Correct: We are soliciting bids from three suppliers.
Alternative: We are requesting bids from three suppliers.
Work:
Incorrect: Management solicited for donations to the employee relief fund.
Correct: Management solicited donations to the employee relief fund.
Alternative: Management asked employees to donate to the relief fund.

Examples: School - classroom and academic rewrites (3)

Academic writing favors precise verbs; drop the extra for or use request depending on tone.

School:
Incorrect: The professor solicited for student opinions about the syllabus.
Correct: The professor solicited student opinions about the syllabus.
Alternative: The professor asked students for their opinions about the syllabus.
School:
Incorrect: The club solicited for volunteers to run the event.
Correct: The club solicited volunteers to run the event.
Alternative: The club asked for volunteers to run the event.
School:
Incorrect: Our project solicited for data from public records.
Correct: Our project solicited data from public records.
Alternative: Our project requested data from public records.

Examples: Casual/social - everyday rewrites (3)

In conversation and social posts, ask for is usually the natural choice; reserve solicit for formal uses.

Casual:
Incorrect: They solicited for spare clothes on the neighborhood page.
Correct: They asked for spare clothes on the neighborhood page.
Casual:
Incorrect: I'm soliciting for recommendations for a good mechanic.
Correct: I'm asking for recommendations for a good mechanic.
Casual:
Incorrect: She solicited for advice from friends about moving.
Correct: She asked friends for advice about moving.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually reveals whether the object belongs directly after solicit or whether ask for/request fits better.

Rewrite help: quick checklist and paste-ready rewrites (3 + checklist)

Run the checklist, then copy one of the rewrites below.

Checklist: 1) Does the next word answer "what?" If yes, drop for. 2) If you name the source, use solicit X from Y. 3) Would ask for or request be clearer for your audience?

Rewrite:
Original: The committee is soliciting for contributions to the scholarship.
Rewrite: The committee is soliciting contributions to the scholarship. Alt: The committee is requesting contributions to the scholarship.
Rewrite:
Original: Parents were solicited for volunteers for the field trip.
Rewrite: Parents were solicited as volunteers for the field trip. Alt: Parents were asked to volunteer for the field trip.
Rewrite:
Original: They solicited for feedback from customers about the app.
Rewrite: They solicited feedback from customers about the app. Alt: They asked customers for feedback about the app.

Memory trick: a quick way to remember

Think: solicit = single-step verb. If you can replace solicit with request or seek without adding a preposition, you probably don't need for.

"Solicit what?" → solicit + object (no for)
"Solicit from whom?" → solicit X from Y
If you would normally say "ask for," using ask for is always safe.

Hyphenation and spacing (short note)

No hyphenation issues here: never write solicit-for or ask-for. Spacing is standard: ask for (two words). Keep the object directly after solicit (solicit donations).

Do not hyphenate: write solicit donations, ask for help
No extra commas between verb and object: not "solicit, donations"

Similar mistakes to watch for

Other verbs behave the same way-some are transitive and don't take a preposition, while others require one. Learn common pairs so you can spot redundancy.

seek advice (not seek for advice) - but ask for advice is fine
request information (not request for information)
apply for a grant (correct: apply for), but apply to a school/company is correct for that meaning
look for someone (correct: look for)

Similar: Incorrect: She requested for more time on the project.
Correct: She requested more time on the project.
Alternative: She asked for more time on the project.
Similar: Incorrect: We seeked for volunteers this season.
Correct: We sought volunteers this season.
Alternative: We asked for volunteers this season.

FAQ

Is "solicit for" always wrong?

Not in every dialect, but in standard modern English it's redundant. Most editors prefer removing the for or rephrasing.

When should I use solicit instead of ask for?

Use solicit in formal fundraising, procurement, legal, and grant-writing contexts. Use ask for or request for clearer, friendlier phrasing.

Can I use solicit from someone?

Yes. Use solicit X from Y when naming the source (solicit donations from alumni).

How do I fix many instances of "solicit for" quickly?

Search for "solicit for" and inspect each case: if the next word is the object, remove for; if the sentence names a source, change to solicit X from Y or reword to ask for/request.

Will grammar checkers catch this?

Many grammar checkers flag "solicit for" as awkward and suggest removing for or offering alternatives, but always review the suggestion for tone and context.

Need a fast check?

When unsure, paste a sentence into a grammar tool or search your draft for "solicit for" and apply the checklist above. A tool can flag the construction; your judgment chooses the right tone-solicit (formal), ask for (friendly), or request (neutral).