an influence operation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an influence operation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a coordinated effort to affect or manipulate opinions, behaviors, or perceptions, often in a political or social context. Example: "The government launched an influence operation to sway public opinion during the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Gaffney's views on Islam are so extreme that CPAC's board voted to ban him from the event after he accused its leaders of being secret agents for radical Islam and suggested that one CPAC leader was part of "an influence operation" that "is contributing materially to the defeat of our country, supporting a stealthy effort to bring Shariah here".

The New Yorker

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc <FB.O> said on Wednesday it had found that an influence operation likely based in Russia spent $100,000 on thousands of ads promoting divisive social and political messages in a two-year-period through May.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He cited a recent Washington Post article, by Rolf Mowathatargued, that argued thet the meeting "is in line with what intelligence analysts would expect an overture in a Russian influence operation to look like," and that it may have been the "green light Russia was looking for to launch a more aggressive phase of intervention in the U.S. election".

The New Yorker

In December, U.S. intelligence agencies briefed a wider circle of officials, saying that "a member of the president's family" was being targeted by a Chinese influence operation, echoing earlier warnings.

The New Yorker

The doll was secretly designed by Donald Levine, the creator of the iconic G.I Joe doll in 2005, for the purposes of a CIA "influence operation" that would apparently stop children from idolising Al-Qaeda.

Independent

In this regard, the DNC attack can be viewed as a typical Kremlin influence operation, which achieves the goal of assisting the Kremlin-favored presidential candidate (Trump) while also pressuring its less-favored candidate (Clinton).

Huffington Post

The social media giant decided to implement an advertising disclosure policy after it was revealed that a Russian troll factory had bought ads for its fake Facebook pages as part of a Kremlin-directed influence operation aimed at the 2016 U.S. election.

Huffington Post

The indictment focusses on the Internet Research Agency, a troll farm based in St .Petersburg, Russia, which, beginning in 2014, allegedly carried out an expensive and intricate influence operation concentrated on highly contested battleground states, including Florida, Virginia, and Colorado.

The New Yorker

In fact, the new Amazon influence operation, which emerged a few weeks after HQ2 plan was made official, suggested there were still concrete ways locals could thwart or at least put a dent in the company's expansion scheme.

Vice

The United States has finally announced a comprehensive package of responses to Russia's 2016 influence operation against the U.S. elections.

TechCrunch

In three committee hearings, representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter were grilled about their sites' roles in facilitating the foreign influence operation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive geopolitical topics, use "an influence operation" to maintain a neutral and professional tone. For example, instead of stating "They are brainwashing the public", consider saying "They are conducting "an influence operation"".

Common error

Avoid using "an influence operation" in everyday conversations or informal writing. This phrase carries a serious connotation and is best reserved for discussions about politics, international relations, or strategic communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an influence operation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a specific type of activity aimed at affecting opinions or behaviors. As Ludwig AI reports, the expression is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an influence operation" is a noun phrase used to describe a coordinated effort to manipulate opinions or behaviors, typically in a political or social context. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is most frequently found in news and media sources and carries a neutral register. Although the frequency is rare, it's a valuable term for precise descriptions of strategic communications and political activities. When writing, reserve this term for formal contexts to describe serious, intentional efforts at manipulation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a propaganda campaign

Focuses on the dissemination of biased information to shape public opinion.

a disinformation campaign

Highlights the spreading of false information to mislead.

a manipulation campaign

Emphasizes the act of skillfully controlling or deceiving.

a strategic communication initiative

Implies a planned and purposeful approach to communication.

a public relations maneuver

Suggests actions taken to create or maintain a favorable public image.

an information warfare tactic

Highlights the use of information as a weapon in conflict.

a psychological operation

Focuses on affecting the emotions and behavior of a target audience.

an outreach program

Emphasizes efforts to connect with and inform a specific group.

a coordinated messaging strategy

Highlights the uniformity and planning behind the communication.

a persuasion effort

Focuses on convincing someone to believe something.

FAQs

How can I use "an influence operation" in a sentence?

You can use "an influence operation" to describe a coordinated effort to affect public opinion or behavior. For example: "The foreign government was accused of launching "an influence operation" to interfere with the election".

What are some alternatives to "an influence operation"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a propaganda campaign", "a disinformation campaign", or "a strategic communication initiative".

What distinguishes "an influence operation" from regular marketing?

"An influence operation" typically involves deception, manipulation, or covert tactics to achieve a political or strategic goal, whereas marketing focuses on promoting products or services through transparent and ethical means.

Is conducting "an influence operation" always considered unethical?

The ethics of conducting "an influence operation" depend on the context, goals, and methods employed. If it involves spreading disinformation, manipulating public opinion, or undermining democratic processes, it is generally considered unethical. However, some influence efforts may be seen as legitimate public diplomacy or strategic communication.