demanding election

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "demanding election" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe an election that is being called for or insisted upon, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The citizens are calling for a demanding election to address the ongoing issues in governance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"In what will inevitably be a difficult and demanding election campaign, we must have a determined and united parliamentary party".

Independent

The first major demonstration took place on April 14, when members of the opposition United Democratic Party marched through the streets in the capital of Banjul demanding election reforms.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Maoist rebels called a three-month ceasefire, while demanding elections to an assembly that would draw up a new constitution.

The Economist

A mob of students and street-kids then surged through Kinshasa, the country's seamy capital, demanding elections on time.

The Economist

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Caracas and other cities demanding elections in Venezuela.

The New York Times

There have been huge demonstrations in the south these last few days and in Baghdad, demanding elections.

The Guardian

In demanding elections, he's obviously looking out for Shiite interests, but he's also insisting that the new Iraqi government be as legitimate and stable as possible.

The New York Times

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shiite leader, was demanding elections much sooner, while the official U.S. position was that they should be put off.

The New York Times

Mr. Chávez said that the officers, who were demanding elections, were trying to incite a coup while cloaking themselves in the Constitution.

The New York Times

The way to approach the ayatollah is therefore not to treat him as an ordinary, grasping politician, but to satisfy the spirit of his fatwa demanding elections.

The New York Times

It is perhaps not surprising therefore that Temer's approval ratings are in single figures – we stand with the millions of Brazilians demanding elections now.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by specifying who is making the demand and under what circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "demanding election" as it's grammatically awkward. Prefer the plural form "demanding elections" or the more natural "calling for an election" for better clarity and acceptance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "demanding election" functions as a noun phrase where "demanding" acts as a participle modifying the noun "election". As Ludwig indicates, it is not considered correct in standard written English, with alternatives like "demanding elections" being preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "demanding election" is considered grammatically awkward in standard English. Ludwig recommends using alternatives such as "calling for an election" or the plural form "demanding elections". While the phrase appears mainly in News & Media, indicating a neutral register, its incorrect grammatical structure affects its overall quality and acceptance. When writing, clarity and grammatical correctness are crucial, especially in formal contexts. Prioritize established phrases to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

calling for an election

Replaces the verb "demanding" with the more common "calling for".

insisting on an election

Emphasizes the firmness of the request using "insisting on" instead of "demanding".

requesting an election

Uses a more polite and less forceful verb "requesting".

pushing for an election

Suggests active effort and advocacy using "pushing for".

seeking an election

Implies a search or desire for an election.

pressing for an election

Highlights the urgency and persistence using "pressing for".

advocating for an election

Focuses on the public support and promotion of an election.

campaigning for an election

Suggests a structured effort to bring about an election.

mandating an election

Emphasizes the compulsory or required nature of an election if such power exists.

agitating for an election

Suggests a stirring up of public opinion to achieve an election.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to say "demanding election"?

A more grammatically sound alternative is "demanding elections", which uses the plural form of the noun. You could also use phrases like "calling for an election" or "insisting on an election".

Is "demanding election" commonly used in formal writing?

No, "demanding election" is not commonly used in formal writing. It's better to opt for clearer and more standard phrases such as "requesting an election" or "pushing for an election".

What does it mean when people are "demanding elections"?

When people are "demanding elections", it signifies that they are strongly requesting or insisting that an election be held, often in response to political instability or dissatisfaction with the current government.

Which phrase is better, "demanding election" or "demanding elections"?

"Demanding elections" is better because it uses the plural form, making it grammatically correct. Using phrases like "calling for an election" is another good alternative.