counter initiative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counter initiative" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a new plan, proposal, or strategy created in response to an existing one. For example, "The government introduced a counter initiative to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Thanks to a mixture of issues causing us to ignore the issue, there hasn't been many counter initiatives to or academic research on right wing extremism in the Great White North.

Vice

It had backed a "counter-initiative" giving shareholders more voting powers without threatening criminal sanction.

The Economist

In 2009, the SVP launched a counter-initiative to federal efforts to implement Swiss-EU freedom of movement legislation.

Huffington Post

As such, "it counters initiatives, like the Ikea initiative, which are great on paper but cannot be implemented easily," she says. .

Vice

We briefed her and her team on our efforts to keep terrorists off Facebook and the launch of our counter speech initiative in the UK earlier today".

TechCrunch

Greece has even proposed that the EU should launch a counter-terrorism initiative.

The Economist

Referring to the use of online counter radicalisation initiatives, House said: "This year….

The Guardian

Prevent - which is the Government's counter-terrorism initiative - has increasingly come under fire in recent months.

Independent

Meanwhile, Fox - aware of ever-decreasing sales at his two main dailies - the Mirror and the Record - came up with a counter-intuitive initiative.

The Guardian

If the editors or their reporters started to pick up information and published it, it would have been damaging to the counter-terrorism initiative.

The Guardian

Whitehall officials shared counter-extremist advice with lecturers and students based on work in UK universities under the Prevent programme, the government's counter-terrorism initiative, which has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "counter initiative", ensure that the context clearly establishes the original initiative to which you are responding. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "counter initiative" when simply introducing a new, unrelated plan. The term specifically implies a direct response to an existing initiative, not just any novel idea.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "counter initiative" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It denotes a specific plan or strategy created to oppose or respond to a previous initiative, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "counter initiative" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a plan or strategy created in response to another existing initiative. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in written English. It is relatively rare but appears in news media, science, and business contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the original initiative is well-established. Alternative phrases, such as "opposing measure" or "reactive strategy", may be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposing measure

Focuses on the act of opposing something through a specific action or decision.

retaliatory action

Emphasizes the responsive nature of the action, often in the context of conflict or competition.

offsetting maneuver

Highlights the strategic aspect of neutralizing another's actions.

reactive strategy

Focuses on the strategic planning aspect of responding to a prior action.

defensive tactic

Emphasizes protection and warding off negative consequences.

neutralizing move

Highlights the aim of cancelling out the effect of an initial action.

reciprocal step

Stresses the idea of mirroring or matching the original action.

balancing effort

Emphasizes the attempt to restore equilibrium after a disturbance.

antagonistic approach

Highlights the confrontational or opposing nature of the response.

contrary plan

Focuses on the development of an alternative plan with conflicting goals.

FAQs

How can I use "counter initiative" in a sentence?

You can use "counter initiative" to describe a plan or action taken in response to another initiative. For example, "The company launched a "counter initiative" to combat the competitor's new marketing campaign".

What's a good alternative to "counter initiative"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "opposing measure", "retaliatory action", or "reactive strategy".

Is it appropriate to use "counter initiative" in formal writing?

Yes, "counter initiative" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in business, political, or academic contexts where strategic responses are discussed.

What distinguishes a "counter initiative" from a regular initiative?

A "counter initiative" is specifically designed to counteract, oppose, or neutralize the effects of a pre-existing initiative. A regular initiative, on the other hand, may be a completely new project or plan without a direct responsive relationship to another.