Learn English – Incorrect Collocation

From the definition of the word interest in Macmillan's Dictionary

Sense 5

[countable/uncountable] an advantage or benefit to someone or something

be in your (own) interest(s) (=bring an advantage or benefit):

It's in their own interest to cooperate.

have someone's (best) interests at heart (=want to help them):

He claims he has only my best interests at heart.

be in someone's/something's (best) interest(s) (=bring an advantage or benefit):

The president doesn't believe the plan is in the best interest of the company.

However, The FreeDictionary gives two versions for the idiom "... at heart"

have someone's best interest(s) at heart

to make decisions based on someone's best interests.

I know she was only doing what would benefit her, but she said she had my best interests at heart.

And from Oxford Dictionaries, it seems that interests is generally more common.

in the interests (or interest) of something

2 For the benefit of:

in the interests of security we are keeping the information confidential

One such principle holds that space is to be explored and used ‘for the benefit and in the interests of all countries.’

We are doing so because it is in our best interests and in the interests of our citizens.

The Government should act in their interests and not just in the interests of the elite who can afford to build nursing homes.

It seems it is a question that may bug some native speakers too!

A relevant question on the Web: question for grammar junkies.....

Is it... "..in the child's best interest?" or "...in the child's best interests?"

Does the answer change if you change "child" to "children?"

NB: Since the proof was in Macmillan's dictionary already, I should consult more than one dictionary from now on. In fact, many times I find clearer answers and definitely some examples when they are not provided in Cambridge's. I like Cambridge's look and feel more and it is a decent work to be honest.

Edit: This one is even more interesting!

in the interest v. in the interests

Edit 2

With this, the post should come to an end

Best interest or interests? MIND OUR ENGLISH

The Star Online , Thursday April 10, 2008

IS IT grammatically correct to say “I have your best interest at heart” or “I have your best interests at heart”?

Assuming both of the above are correct, in the following sentence, which would you say works better?

“Your priorities are important so believe us when we say that we have your best interest(s) at heart.”

– Viv

1) Both are grammatically correct, but when “interest” means “advantage” or “benefit”, the plural “interests” is more often used.

2) I would go for “best interests”.

You are right: c is correct and d is not.

She is interested in teaching work because she loves working with children

work is uncountable, so the sentence is grammatically correct. As others have said, the word work is not strictly necessary, but its usage in this way is common and idiomatic: similar usages include charity work or office work.

profession is countable, so the sentence is not grammatically correct as it stands. An article is required, for example:

She is interested in the teaching profession because she loves working with children

With the article, the sentence is grammatically correct and nobody would complain if somebody said this, but it would be regarded as quite formal.