are intended to spur

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are intended to spur" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the purpose or goal of an action, particularly in contexts related to motivation or encouragement. Example: "The new policies are intended to spur innovation within the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Those cuts are intended to spur consumer spending and growth.

The Economist

This time, the stones are intended to spur commercial investment.

The New York Times

Designed to cover half the surface area of a pack or carton of cigarettes, and a fifth of any advertisements for them, the labels are intended to spur smokers to quit by providing graphic reminders of tobacco's dangers.

The New York Times - Health

Stephen Moore, president of the Club for Growth, a political action committee that supports candidates who favor lower taxes, noted that tax cuts are intended to spur growth, but also to control the size of government by depriving it of the money needed to create new programs.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The administration's proposal is intended to spur achievement.

The New York Times

The stimulus was intended to spur borrowing and investment through easy access to liquidity.

The New York Times

And most importantly, Snowden's actions were not for personal benefit, but were intended to spur reform.

The Guardian

The government spending is intended to spur growth and even out the growth somewhat by spreading more of it inland.

The New York Times

Hundreds of lenders took money from TARP, which was intended to spur lending and improve the economy.

The New York Times

He said his presence in the courtroom was intended to spur the news media to report that the two men might be innocent.

The New York Times

Pagels and King devote scant attention to it, responding simply that this laughter is intended to spur Jesus' disciples on to "higher spiritual vision".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are intended to spur", ensure the context clearly defines what action or outcome is being encouraged. This adds clarity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "are intended to spur" when a gentler approach is more appropriate. Spur implies a forceful encouragement, which may not always align with the desired tone or effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are intended to spur" functions as a purpose connector, indicating the reason or objective behind an action or decision. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. It introduces a clause that explains the intended outcome of something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are intended to spur" serves as a purpose connector, clarifying the motivations behind actions or policies. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While relatively rare, it's most commonly found in News & Media, carrying a neutral tone suitable for professional or general communication. Alternatives such as "aim to stimulate" or "seek to encourage" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight variations in connotation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim to stimulate

This alternative focuses on the goal of encouragement, highlighting the intended outcome of increased activity or interest.

seek to encourage

This phrase emphasizes the active pursuit of creating a supportive environment for something to flourish.

intend to promote

This alternative focuses on advancing or encouraging the progress of something.

are designed to motivate

This option directly addresses the motivational aspect, suggesting a deliberate design to inspire action.

are directed at stimulating

This phrase highlights that the action is specifically targeted toward encouraging a certain result.

are geared towards fostering

This alternative highlights nurturing and supporting growth or development.

are meant to incite

This suggests a stronger, more provocative action to trigger a response, which might carry a slightly negative connotation.

aspire to generate

This focuses on the ambition to create or produce something, suggesting a hopeful outlook.

are purposed to galvanize

This emphasizes a sudden burst of energy or action, implying a more dramatic effect.

are calculated to activate

This suggests a careful and deliberate plan to trigger a specific response or process.

FAQs

What does "are intended to spur" mean?

The phrase "are intended to spur" means that something is designed or planned to encourage or stimulate a particular action or outcome. It implies a deliberate effort to initiate or accelerate progress.

How can I use "are intended to spur" in a sentence?

You can use "are intended to spur" when you want to express that a specific action, policy, or initiative aims to encourage or motivate a certain behavior or development. For example: "The new tax cuts "are intended to spur" economic growth."

What can I say instead of "are intended to spur"?

You can use alternatives like "aim to stimulate", "seek to encourage", or "are designed to motivate" depending on the context.

Is "are intended to spur" formal or informal?

"Are intended to spur" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more common in professional or news-related writing.