ability to encourage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to encourage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's capacity or skill to motivate or inspire others. Example: "Her ability to encourage her team members has significantly improved their morale and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He also had an exceptional ability to encourage young writers.

The Guardian

It's a neat (possibly unconscious) trick: the ability to encourage admiration while appearing humbled by it.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Yukos situation is also hurting Russia's ability to encourage investment.

The New York Times

The lobby group's demands on directors include knowledge of finance but equally an ability to encourage diverse views.

The Guardian - Business

They praised the institutions for their ability to "encourage a sense of empathy and understanding for alternative cultures".

The Guardian

"The English theatre," he muses, "has a wonderful ability to encourage you to collude with your own disappearance".

The Guardian - Books

Others have praised Freeman's ability to encourage more young people to take an interest in the stage.

Independent

Our society has lost the ability to encourage people to be altruistic, adventuresome, to submerge themselves at least for a moment in the greater good".

The New York Times

The Anthony Howard Award for Young Journalists 2015 Anthony Howard, who died in 2010, was a superb political journalist, with an exceptional ability to encourage young writers.

The Guardian

Respected for her devotion to the American dream and her ability to encourage the community to work together for the common good.

The New York Times

I trust that the power of this film lies in its ability to encourage people to think about violence, to reflect on it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In educational contexts, use "ability to encourage" to emphasize a teacher's skill in fostering a positive learning environment and motivating students.

Common error

Avoid using "ability to encourage" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying "The program has the ability to encourage participation", opt for the active voice: "The program encourages participation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to encourage" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples showcase its role in describing a capability or attribute, such as someone's ability to motivate others. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ability to encourage" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the capacity to inspire or motivate others. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase across various contexts. Its usage is particularly common in news, scientific, and business domains. When writing, it's advisable to use active voice constructions for clarity and to consider context-specific alternatives like "capacity to motivate" or "skill in inspiring" for nuanced meaning. The numerous examples from Ludwig illustrate the phrase's widespread applicability and acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to motivate

Focuses on providing a reason or incentive for action.

skill in inspiring

Emphasizes the talent for creating enthusiasm or positive emotion.

power to stimulate

Highlights the capability of prompting activity or development.

aptitude for fostering

Indicates a natural inclination to nurture growth or development.

talent for galvanizing

Refers to the ability to shock or excite someone into taking action.

potential to uplift

Focuses on raising someone's spirits or improving their condition.

facility for incentivizing

Highlights the ease with which one can provide incentives.

effectiveness in prompting

Emphasizes how successful one is in initiating action or discussion.

knack for spurring

Indicates a special or intuitive skill in motivating.

strength in mobilizing

Refers to the power to organize and encourage collective action.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to encourage" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to encourage" to describe someone's capacity to motivate or inspire others. For example: "Her "ability to encourage" her team members has significantly improved their morale and productivity."

What are some alternatives to "ability to encourage"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "capacity to motivate", "skill in inspiring", or "power to stimulate".

Is it correct to say "the ability of encouraging"?

While grammatically understandable, "the ability of encouraging" is less common and less direct than "the "ability to encourage"". The latter is generally preferred for its clarity and conciseness.

What's the difference between "ability to encourage" and "willingness to encourage"?

"Ability to encourage" refers to having the skill or capacity to inspire or motivate others, while "willingness to encourage" indicates a readiness or desire to provide support and motivation. One focuses on capability, and the other on disposition.