Can we grow a habit?

Question

What are verbs that we can use in a collocation with the noun habit? Particularly, Is using "to grow" correct as in the following example sentence? Is it standard English?

When people can realize that using the machine can be much more time-saving, they will grow a habit to use it eventually.

I saw in Longman Dictionary that the verbs create,form,develop are used and make/get into the habit of doing something are more common patterns but I also saw many times that "growing a habit" is used on the Internet.

Answer 1

Usually a habit is developed over time, or an action becomes a habit.

If one is not careful, social smoking can become a real smoking habit.

However, the first thing that came to mind with

grow (your) habit

was that, with the legalization of marijuana, one might literally be able to

grow one's habit

Answer 2

"Grow a habit" is not idiomatic - as you mention, the usual verbs are create, form, and develop; or "get into the habit of...".

Any usage of "grow a habit" that you may have found on the Internet is not standard. I speculate that somebody might use that language in advertising or marketing as a way to stand out and draw your attention.

I would not use that form.

Answer 3

It's certainly possible to "grow" a habit but I would recommend a number of other verbs instead:

Active:

make
acquire
develop
instill
inculcate
get

Passive:

become
have
is

Somewhat relevant Ngram. Note most of these are past-tense since, presumably, you would have started on the habit in the past.

Answer 4

In standard English, one does not grow a habit. But one can grow into a habit, or grow out of it. Google Ngram shows that both phrases have declined substantially from their peaks, though. I was surprised to learn that "grow into a habit" was so much more common than the opposite phrase; I have heard "grow out of the habit" in use much more often.

For your specific situation, however, "grow into the habit" doesn't seem right, as growing into a habit doesn't take voluntary effort whereas using a machine does. I think "habituated" would work better. The contrast between the two can be shown by this sentence:

Since I stopped working, I've grown into the habit of staying up really late, but I'm trying to habituate myself to an earlier bedtime again.

You could also try "grow accustomed to using" instead of "grow the habit of using"*.

Answer 5

The most direct answer to your question is no. That sentence would be understood - it isn't completely nonsensical - but it certainly isn't standard. I've never once heard a native speaker use it. You are correct that get in the habit or make it a habit are most often used.

Original Sentence:

When people can realize that using the machine can be much more time-saving, they will grow a habit to use it eventually.

Modified Sentences:

1) When people realize that the machine saves them time, they will eventually get in the habit of using it.

2) When people realize that the machine saves them time, they will eventually make a habit of using it.

3) When people realize that the machine saves them time, they will eventually make using it a habit.

4) When people realize that the machine saves them time, using it will eventually become a habit.

I will admit that the first three "patterns" are tricky. Tricky enough that I don't know if I would call them patterns - maybe they're idioms or figures of speech. Using them this way (unless someone can point out a counterexample) applies to the word habit only.

There are other phrases you could use- a person can pick up or fall into or acquire a habit. They could also develop a habit over time. However, for the sentence you asked about, the above examples work best.