an invitation to action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an invitation to action" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when encouraging someone to take a specific step or engage in a particular activity. Example: "The campaign serves as an invitation to action, urging citizens to participate in the upcoming election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is a great step to acknowledge every new connection as quickly as possible with a short thank you message, and if appropriate an invitation to action (such as an invitation to subscribe to your blog or columns) or to ask a question or to make an offer of help.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We followed this invitation to action with a simple random sample of 400 respondents who received an additional email encouraging them to respond to the survey.

BMC Genomics

In May, Bill McKibben wrote an article in Rolling Stone, "A Call to Arms: An Invitation to Demand Action on Climate Change," which laid some of the groundwork for this weekend's events.

The New Yorker

They say it is an invitation to vast class action lawsuits on issues that could be resolved out of court.

The New York Times

Preceding the summit, it was expected that Ukraine was on a fast track to membership: it was believed that Ukraine would have received an invitation to a Membership Action Plan during the summit, followed by an invitation to join in 2008 and membership in 2010.

Wikipedia

The call to witness will not be a protest or criticism, said Arzuaga-Morales, but an invitation to dialogue and to action that will visibly and responsibly address the issue.

Duke University

"That portion of the judge's findings was an invitation to a class-action lawsuit," said Robert Litan, a former senior official in the Justice Department's antitrust division who is now at the Brookings Institution.

The New York Times

The Pledge for Paternity Leave is an invitation to everyone to take action.

Harvard Business Review

Google's AdSense team is specifically targeting Facebook developers with an invitation to its pay-per-action beta program (reprinted beow).

TechCrunch

The Jesus of Matthew's story taught his followers to "love your enemies". But this was definitely not an invitation to passivity or non-action.

HuffPost

There are few circumstances that might require the United States to quickly launch nuclear-tipped missiles, and missiles on high alert are an invitation to an accident, or impulsive action.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an invitation to action" when you want to gently encourage someone to participate or take a specific step without being overly forceful. It works well in contexts where collaboration and willing participation are desired.

Common error

Avoid using "an invitation to action" in situations that require immediate compliance or strong directives. Opt for stronger phrases like "must act" or "required action" when urgency and authority are needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an invitation to action" functions as a noun phrase that serves to propose or suggest a specific action. It acts as a gentle encouragement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, rather than a forceful command. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, from social media engagement to political movements.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an invitation to action" functions as a noun phrase that encourages engagement or participation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, including news, science, academia, and wiki sources. The phrase aims to stimulate a specific behavior without being overly forceful. While "a call to action" conveys more urgency, "an invitation to action" suggests a gentler, more collaborative approach. When using this phrase, consider the context and audience to ensure it aligns with the desired tone and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a call to action

Emphasizes urgency and immediacy more strongly.

a prompt for engagement

Focuses on stimulating involvement rather than a specific action.

an encouragement to act

Highlights the motivational aspect.

a stimulus for activity

Suggests something that triggers activity more generally.

a catalyst for movement

Implies initiating a significant change or development.

a suggestion for response

Is a milder, less forceful way of prompting action.

a motivation to participate

Highlights active involvement.

an instigation to act

Suggests a more direct and potentially forceful initiation.

an impetus for change

Implies driving force behind change or transformation.

a reason to engage

Highlights the justification or motive behind engagement.

FAQs

What does "an invitation to action" mean?

The phrase "an invitation to action" means a suggestion or encouragement to do something, often implying a gentle urging rather than a forceful command.

When is it appropriate to use "an invitation to action"?

It's appropriate when you want to encourage participation or a specific response in a non-demanding way. It suits collaborative or voluntary contexts.

What can I say instead of "an invitation to action"?

You can use alternatives like "a call to action", "a prompt for engagement", or "an encouragement to act" depending on the context.

How does "an invitation to action" differ from "a call to action"?

"An invitation to action" is generally more gentle and suggestive, while "a call to action" implies a more urgent and direct appeal.