Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

at someone's urging
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(11)

at the request of

at someone's request

at the behest of

upon the recommendation of

at the insistence of

at the suggestion of

prompted by

at the instigation of

under pressure from

following the advice of

encouraged by

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At someone's urging, they turned around to pose for the obligatory photo, then settled themselves in a small circle with their backs to their fan.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This leaves you in a state of simmering low-grade resentment, and you feel guilty about occasionally having the urge to throw your laptop at someone's face.

News & Media

The New York Times

She is hoping that someone will revive H.R. 2749, a bill introduced, at Reisman's urging, in 1995 to determine if "The Kinsey Reports" "are the result of any fraud or criminal wrongdoing".

News & Media

The New Yorker

Fake a throw at someone's feet.

Wiki

WikiHow

Do not sneeze at someone's face.

Wiki

WikiHow

Throw it at someone's head.

Wiki

WikiHow

Never fire at someone's face.

Wiki

WikiHow

Never shoot at someone's eyes.

Wiki

WikiHow

At Mr. Rouse's urging, Mr. Obama confided his interest in a White House run to Mr. Daschle, seeking guidance from someone who had nearly taken the plunge himself.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We don't need someone at the White House urging the industry to behave better... to help the industry dodge the regulatory bullet," he said.

News & Media

The Washington Post

Just about every time she looks at Twitter, 19-year-old Madison Campbell sees someone urging her to vote on Nov. 6.

News & Media

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is particularly effective in narratives or news reports to explain the 'why' behind a person's decision change.

Common error

Do not use "at someone's urging" if the action was a standard administrative procedure. Use "at the request of" for formal procedures. Urging implies a level of emotional or persuasive effort that a simple request lacks.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "at someone's urging" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves as an adverbial adjunct of cause. It qualifies the main verb of the sentence by identifying the external motivational force behind the subject's action. In the examples found in Ludwig, it often appears as an introductory phrase or a trailing modifier to provide context for a sudden or significant decision.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

Formal & Business

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at someone's urging" is a sophisticated linguistic tool used to denote influence that falls between a suggestion and a demand. While the literal count for the placeholder 'someone' is low, the construction itself—using specific names or titles—is a staple of high-end English prose. Ludwig AI data reveals its prevalence in journalistic storytelling where motivations are as important as the actions themselves. When writing, use this phrase to add depth to your descriptions of decision-making, ensuring that you correctly apply the possessive apostrophe to the person doing the 'urging'.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the behest of

Suggests a more authoritative or official command compared to urging.

at the insistence of

Indicates a stronger, non-negotiable demand than urging.

at the suggestion of

Implies a gentler, less persistent influence than urging.

prompted by

Focuses on the trigger of the action rather than the person's persistent effort.

upon the recommendation of

More formal and professional, often used in administrative contexts.

at the request of

More neutral and lacks the persuasive persistence implied by urging.

at the instigation of

Often carries a slightly negative or provocative connotation.

under pressure from

Much stronger than urging, implying that the person had little choice.

following the advice of

Suggests a more rational or expert-driven motivation.

encouraged by

Focuses on the support provided rather than the specific act of persuasion.

FAQs

How to use "at someone's urging" in a sentence?

You can use it to explain a decision, such as: "The actor returned to the stage "at his friend's urging" to take one last bow."

What is the difference between "at someone's urging" and "at someone's request"?

While "at someone's request" is a neutral statement of fact, "at someone's urging" suggests that the person had to be convinced or encouraged to take the action.

Is "at someone's urging" formal enough for business writing?

Yes, it is considered a professional and neutral phrase. However, in strictly legal or bureaucratic documents, "at the behest of" or "upon the recommendation of" might be more common.

Can I say "on someone's urging" instead?

While occasionally used, "at someone's urging" is the standard idiomatic expression. 'On' is much less common and may be seen as a mistake in formal writing.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

at someone's urgingGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

at someone's urging
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples