courageous pledge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "courageous pledge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a bold or brave commitment to a cause or action. Example: "The organization made a courageous pledge to fight against climate change, promising to reduce their carbon footprint significantly over the next decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Now that President Obama has made the courageous pledge to end child hunger in the United States by 2015 as a down payment on ending all domestic hunger, I hope the administration and Congress can not only agree that food should be a right for all people of the world, but also start making that a reality by enacting the policies and providing the funds necessary to eliminate hunger in America.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He made a courageous decision by pledging not to run for re-election unless reading scores go up.

The New York Times

George H.W. Bush Bushh may have had a problem with "the vision thing," but his tax increase in the wake of his "Read my lips, no new taxes" pledge was courageous because he placed governing ahead of politics.

Huffington Post

When I was elected mayor of North Down in 2013, I pledged to provide courageous civic leadership for everyone.

The Guardian - Opinion

I pray for the day that marriage for all consenting adults, regardless of sexual orientation, will be commonplace by law across the United States, commonplace by doctrine in many faith communities -- yet ever extraordinary for the two people who take the courageous and faithful step of pledging to build their lives together.

Huffington Post

After spurning a politically courageous Israeli peace offer last summer, the Palestinian leader has broken his pledge of nonviolence and for the past 10 months has repeatedly endorsed an armed Palestinian uprising.

The New York Times

Defectors from the pledge need not be apologists for taking this difficult and courageous step.

Huffington Post

But Le Pen pledges to wrest sovereignty back from Europe, like the "courageous British who, despite dire warnings, chose their destiny".

The Guardian

He told a crowd of college students: "I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America" and pledged to "reclaim the constitution".

The Guardian

So the mayor of London Boris Johnson pledge to keep the Olympics within its current budget is decidedly courageous.

The Guardian - Opinion

When the totalitarian regime falls, thanks largely to an open letter written by Matapari's courageous father, a parade of presidential candidates materializes, rolling out ridiculous campaign pledges.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "courageous pledge" to describe a commitment that requires bravery or involves significant risk. It's often used in political or social contexts to highlight the bold nature of a promise.

Common error

Avoid using "courageous pledge" for everyday promises or commitments that do not genuinely require bravery. This can diminish the impact of the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "courageous pledge" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "courageous" modifies the noun "pledge". Ludwig indicates that it describes a commitment made with bravery or boldness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "courageous pledge" is a noun phrase used to describe a bold or brave commitment. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for use in formal contexts such as news and media. While the phrase itself isn't very common, alternatives like "bold promise" or "brave commitment" can be used depending on the specific nuance needed. It's important to reserve this phrase for situations where the commitment genuinely requires bravery to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

courageous resolution

Similar to the original, but replaces "pledge" with "resolution".

bold promise

Emphasizes the assertiveness and confidence behind the promise.

resolute promise

Emphasizes the firmness and determination behind the promise.

brave commitment

Highlights the bravery and dedication involved in the commitment.

daring commitment

Highlights the risk and boldness associated with the commitment.

valiant undertaking

Suggests a heroic effort or endeavor that requires courage.

audacious resolution

Focuses on the daring and unconventional nature of the resolution.

fearless vow

Stresses the absence of fear in making the vow.

intrepid declaration

Emphasizes the boldness and unwavering nature of the declaration.

spirited assurance

Conveys a sense of enthusiasm and confidence in the assurance given.

FAQs

How can I use "courageous pledge" in a sentence?

You can use "courageous pledge" to describe a bold commitment to a cause or action, as in, "The organization made a "courageous pledge" to fight against climate change."

What's a good alternative to "courageous pledge"?

Alternatives include "bold promise", "brave commitment", or "daring commitment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "courageous pledge" a formal or informal expression?

"Courageous pledge" tends to be more formal, often appearing in news and media or political contexts. For more informal situations, a phrase like "bold promise" might be more suitable.

What makes a pledge "courageous"?

A pledge is considered "courageous" when it involves significant personal or professional risk, challenges established norms, or requires overcoming substantial obstacles to fulfill.