"develop into an adult" and "grow up into an adult"

[Daruma]

Hello.

- develop into an adult
- grow up into an adult
Do you see any difference in meaning?

Thank you.

[sarat_106]

Hello.

- develop into an adult
- grow (up) into an adult
Do you see any difference in meaning?

Thank you.

Remove 'up' and meaning wise there is no difference but usage wise develop is primarily used to express the change into an advanced form; as: develop the body, develop into a good athlete, Something is developing in the region etc.
To me, Develop into an adult does not sound natural nor appropriate
Similarly, grow up is a phrasal verb meaning: to change from being a child to being an adult So a grown up child= adult You can say, She is a grown up child or an adult.
But you can use grow into which is also a phrasal verb meaning: to become a more fully developed type of person; as: We want our children to grow into responsible adults

[PROESL]

Hello.

- develop into an adult
- grow up into an adult
Do you see any difference in meaning?

Thank you.

I don't think that "grow up" combines very well with "into an adult". It's relevant to note that "grow up" means "become an adult".

The phrase "develop into an adult" makes sense. It's a kind of fixed or semi-fixed expression.

As for the first phrase, one can't always predict what others might say that might sound strange to you. So I'm going to see who says "grow up into an adult" out there by going to Google. Regardless of how many returns I get from Google, I still don't think it's a good phrase.

"grow up into an adult" - Google Search=


"develop into an adult" - Google Search=

I'm surprised to see that there are more returns for "grow up into an adult" than "develop into an adult". I still think that "develop into an adult" is the better expression of the two.

Now let's check both semi-fixed expressions:

"develop into *" - Google Search=

"grow up into *" - Google Search=

As a semi-fixed expression, "develop into *" has more returns than "grow up into *. That's interesting.

"Grow up" is a more ordinary and everyday expression, while "develop" is a word that would more likely be used in more serious or in-depth types of discourse or conversation - in a relative way. That's a vague generality, which I, nonetheless, consider to be relevant - in a way.

[Daruma]

Thanks a million, PROESL.

Do you think that it's correct to say not only grow up but grow into an adult?

[PROESL]

Thanks a million, PROESL.

Do you think that it's correct to say not only grow up but grow into an adult?

It's correct in a structural way, but there's something about the phrase "grow into an adult" that strikes me as kind of odd or strange. I think it's redundant because "grow up" already means, or implies, become an adult or develop adult-like characteristics. So the combination of "grow up" and "into an adult" doesn't seem to be very logical or reasonable, at least to me. Of course, having done my Google investigation, I'm aware that many people use the phrase "grow up into an adult".

At your advanced level, one begins to encounter more areas that are not clearly "right" or "wrong" one way or the other. I think it's advisable to beware of "dogma" from zealous language critics. I try to be objective. Ever since my karma ran over my dogma, I try to steer clear of dogma. That's a play on words I see from time to time - one's dog could be run over by a car - one's dogma could be run over by one's karma.

[Daruma]

How about "grow into a responsible adult"? Does this sound odd, too?

[PROESL]

How about "grow into a responsible adult"? Does this sound odd, too?

That's sounds normal and good to me.

__________________________________________________ ____

Yes, one day little Stuart will grow into a responsible adult. Let's just hope someone warns the responsible adult before that happens. LOL!

[Daruma]

- develop into a responsible adult
- grow into a responsible adult
- mature into a responsible adult

Any difference in meaning?

[PROESL]

- develop into a responsible adult
- grow into a responsible adult
- mature into a responsible adult

Any difference in meaning?

For practical purposes, we could say they are the same. It would be more a question of style when it comes to which phrase one chooses. Nonetheless, they are three distinct words with three distinct definitions, though these definitions would have some overlap in meaning, as these words are related and could, in some cases, be used interchangebly. I would simply look up each word and compare the definitions. Each word implies something different, in a way. Still, as I said, for practical purposes, I think the three expressions are, more or less, the same.

[Tdol]

I use something like 'turned into' instead of those verbs.