compels us to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compels us to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong motivation or necessity to take a certain action or adopt a particular viewpoint. Example: "The evidence presented in the report compels us to reconsider our initial conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, the small size of the dataset compels us to use the binary representation of these connections (connected or unconnected).

BMC Biology

It really compels us to act".

The Guardian

Warning signs flash, but passion compels us to ignore them.

The Guardian - Music

"Hearing from customers and knowing they care definitely compels us to want to do more".

The New York Times

It is what compels us to go through a decade of formal university education.

The Guardian - Opinion

She is the crone in the snow globe whom Poppins compels us to see.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Our relationship as human beings compels us to go in and help.

The New York Times

"It's enlightened self-interest that compels us to do good scientific work," he said.

The New York Times

The scale of the Islip courthouse compels us to acknowledge afresh Meier's genius for composition.

The New York Times - Arts

Pulling no punches about Lord Alfred's many flaws, Murray compels us to recognize his qualities.

The New York Times - Books

Excessive medicalization compels us to advocate for natural death as a humane goal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "compels us to" to convey a strong sense of necessity or obligation arising from logic, ethics, or circumstance. It's more impactful than simply saying something is 'necessary'.

Common error

Avoid using "compels us to" when a simpler word like 'encourages' or 'suggests' would suffice. Reserve it for situations where the force driving the action is significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compels us to" functions as a verb phrase indicating a strong sense of obligation or necessity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to express that something is not merely suggested, but practically mandatory. It highlights a powerful influence leading to a specific action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "compels us to" is a powerful verb phrase that indicates a strong sense of obligation or necessity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While alternatives like "forces us to", "obliges us to", and "drives us to" exist, "compels us to" often conveys a reasoned and ethical motivation behind the necessary action. Use it judiciously to emphasize the unavoidable nature of a decision while avoiding overuse in weaker contexts. The numerous examples provided by Ludwig highlight its versatility and effectiveness in expressing a firm imperative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forces us to

Emphasizes the imposition of action, differing from "compels us to" by implying a lack of choice.

obliges us to

Suggests a sense of duty or legal requirement, unlike "compels us to" which can also stem from moral reasons.

drives us to

Highlights internal motivation as the cause, slightly different than external factors that can compel.

motivates us to

Implies a positive stimulus, in contrast to "compels us to" that can be a response to negative pressure.

prompts us to

Indicates a suggestion or initiation, less forceful than "compels us to".

inspires us to

Focuses on encouraging creativity or enthusiasm, differing from the obligatory feel of "compels us to".

leads us to

Suggests a guiding factor rather than an irresistible force, unlike "compels us to".

necessitates that we

More formal and explicitly states a need for action; "compels us to" is less direct.

requires us to

Highlights a demand or precondition for something, differing from the broader scope of "compels us to".

induces us to

Implies persuasion or influence as the cause, in contrast to an inherent need in "compels us to".

FAQs

How can I use "compels us to" in a sentence?

The phrase "compels us to" is used to express a strong feeling of obligation or necessity to do something. For example, "The overwhelming evidence compels us to reconsider our initial assumptions."

What phrases are similar to "compels us to"?

You can use alternatives such as "forces us to", "obliges us to", or "drives us to" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to use "compels us to" or "forces us to"?

Both "compels us to" and "forces us to" indicate a strong need to take action. "Compels us to" often suggests a motivation based on reason or ethics, while "forces us to" implies a lack of choice due to external pressure.

What's the difference between "compels us to" and "motivates us to"?

"Compels us to" implies a sense of obligation or necessity, whereas "motivates us to" suggests a positive stimulus or encouragement. The former is more about duty, and the latter is about desire.