at their insistence

USAGE SUMMARY

'at their insistence' is correct and can be used in written and spoken English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that has happened because someone or a group of people insisted that it happen. For example: I gave in to their demands at their insistence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

At their insistence, he also sneaked in some cancan instruction.

The New York Times - Arts

We slept on the street, and they didn't help when we declined to break up at their insistence".

The New York Times

At their insistence, the 1960s folk duo is the only music we listen to during car rides.

The New York Times - Tech

Democrats counter that much of that increase came at their insistence, in defiance of lower budget requests by President Bush.

The New York Times

When the Nazis invaded in 1941, Mr. Grade left his mother and first wife, at their insistence, and fled to Soviet regions.

The New York Times

Osborne has angered the Lib Dems by trying to take personal credit for the increase, which they say has only happened at their insistence.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

(For us, at least). Their insistence on the fundamental absence of a controlling order in the universe is matched among American filmmakers only by Woody Allen.

The New York Times

At their repeated insistence, she faxed over an offer letter.

The New York Times

Their visitors included the celebrated author Washington Irving and the artist George Catlin, who made a number of paintings and sketches of them, some of which portrayed them (at their own insistence) in chains.

Encyclopedia Britannica

According to the clinic's associate medical director, Dr. Kawabena Nyamekye, participants were being helped off medication at their own insistence, not at the request of Downtown Medical.

Wikipedia

At their worst, their insistence on adding extra rape scenes and their obsession with Theon (I have yet to meet a fan who thought Theon was worth all the screentime. There's a reason that Martin did all the torture off page not for squeamishness, but boredom with the character) drives away fans of the book and show alike.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at their insistence" to clearly indicate that a decision or action was taken because someone strongly urged or demanded it. This provides context and clarifies the reason behind the action.

Common error

Avoid using "at their insistence" if the action was merely suggested or recommended, not strongly urged or demanded. Using a weaker phrase like "at their suggestion" might be more appropriate if the influence was less forceful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at their insistence" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason or condition for an action. Ludwig examples show its common usage in news and media.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

19%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Unknown

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at their insistence" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase indicating that an action occurred due to strong urging or demand. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. It's essential to use this phrase when accurately reflecting the degree of influence behind a decision, opting for alternatives like "at their suggestion" for milder cases. This phrase is appropriate for neutral contexts, such as news reporting and encyclopedic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at their urging

This is more direct and implies a strong recommendation.

on their demand

This indicates a firmer request, almost like a requirement.

on their urging

This phrase emphasizes the act of persuading someone to do something.

due to their urging

This phrase highlights the cause-and-effect relationship.

at their instance

This is a formal and slightly archaic alternative.

because they insisted

This phrase uses a clause structure, making it slightly more explanatory.

as per their request

Suggests compliance with a stated request.

as they required

This suggests a formal or necessary condition being met.

by their directive

More formal, suggests an official instruction.

at their command

Implying that the action was due to order from someone.

FAQs

How can I use "at their insistence" in a sentence?

You can use "at their insistence" to show that something happened because someone strongly urged it. For example, "The company changed its policy "at their insistence" after the public outcry".

What are some alternatives to "at their insistence"?

Alternatives include "on their urging", "due to their urging", or "on their demand". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "at their insistence" or "by their insistence"?

"At their insistence" is generally preferred over "by their insistence". "At" indicates the condition or circumstances under which something happens, while "by" implies agency. While "by their insistence" isn't necessarily incorrect, "at their insistence" is more idiomatic.

What's the difference between "at their insistence" and "at their suggestion"?

"At their insistence" implies a stronger level of urging or demand compared to "at their suggestion". "Suggestion" implies a gentle recommendation, while "insistence" implies a firm urging that is difficult to ignore. Choose "at their suggestion" when the action was taken based on a recommendation, not a forceful demand.