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Are there guidelines for when to use to or for with appealing?

I was writing this sentence: '... choose a time that is appealing to you', and then thought it was likely for, but either seems to make sense or "sound right".

Any advice?

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Advice? Drop the two words altogether. "...choose a time that is appealing." (I'll bet the reader will be able to figure out who that time should appeal to). – J.R. Aug 22 '12 at 10:15
@J.R. Fair enough as a practical solution - but as a general rule - if I did use either, which is correct? – bryan Aug 22 '12 at 10:17
that's why I put that as a comment, not as a question - but, if you look carefully, I did indicate which preposition would be generally preferred. – J.R. Aug 22 '12 at 12:58
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It's almost always appeal to; here's an NGram showing you. – JLG Aug 22 '12 at 13:57
What J.R. said. Native speakers simply wouldn't be likely to use appealing in the context of an [appointment?] time. It would practically always be suitable or convenient. But as JLG says, if you are going to use appealing (in some more suitable context), you'd normally follow it by to. – FumbleFingers Aug 31 '12 at 1:06

4 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

'Appealing to' and 'Appealing for' are different.

One appeals to someone (a person, an institution, a court, a foundation etc) to do something.

The other appeals for something ( a benefit, a ruling, funds, help, etc).

I am appealing to you to accept my answer.

I am appealing for points as I do not have many.

'... choose a time that is appealing to you'

'... choose a time that is appealing for you'

I would prefer the first example, but the second example is comprehensible. I would prefer:

'.....choose a time that appeals to you' or '.... choose a time that is convenient for you'.

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In that context, I'd use "to". If I find something appealing, it is appealing to me. If I need help from someone and a third party talks to the person that can provide it, they are appealing "for" me. It's a different use of the word, but that's the connotation that "to" and "for" bring out. (at least to me.)

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When you say "appealing for", that makes me think that you wrote something nice, and it's for me. When you say "appealing to", that makes me think that it's nice to me, meaning that I like it.

Examples:

I cooked something impeccably appealing for you!

This means that the chef cooked something that looked nice to him, but not exactly to the eater. It's not exactly a direct judging.

I cooked something that's impeccably appealing to you!

This sentence it extremely directed towards the eater. It basically displays the chef's take on the outcome of the eater's opinion.

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up vote 0 down vote

Two different sense of appeal are involved here, taking different prepositions

  1. ask (for), request ... One appeals to someone (a person, an institution, a court, a foundation &c) to do something or for something (a boon, a benefit, a ruling, funds, help &c)

I am appealing to you to accept my answer.
I am appealing to others for their votes.

  1. attract, please ... Something appeals to someone

    The idea that you may be satisfied with my answer is appealing to me.

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