did not encourage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not encourage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone or something failed to provide support or motivation for a particular action or behavior. Example: "The teacher did not encourage students to take unnecessary risks during the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such encounters did not encourage easy conversation.

The Economist

"I did not encourage them," she said.

The New York Times

Friends did not encourage their new venture.

The New York Times

Oxytocin did not encourage people to lie about this.

The Economist

Gaddafi's Libya did not encourage hope for a better life.

The Guardian

From the start they did not encourage confidence in them.

The New York Times

"We did not encourage women to come," Ms. Rogers recalled.

The New York Times - Style

We did not encourage him to do so".

The New York Times

We did not encourage the teaching of creationism at all".

The New York Times

He did not encourage Catholics to defy Nazi orders.

The New York Times

Reviews also did not encourage inclusion of state-of-the-art abstract, article, and references features.

Annals of Emergency Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "did not encourage" with a more specific verb that accurately reflects the degree of discouragement, such as "deterred" or "dissuaded", for a more nuanced meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "did not encourage" when a stronger term like "prohibited" or "forbade" is more appropriate. "Did not encourage" implies a lack of support, while the latter terms denote active prevention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not encourage" functions as a negative transitive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject refrained from providing support or motivation towards a specific action or behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

13%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not encourage" is a versatile and commonly used expression that indicates a lack of support or promotion for a particular action or idea. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in written English. As shown by the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase appears frequently in news and media, academic writing, and encyclopedias. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, consider the context and desired nuance when choosing between "did not encourage" and stronger alternatives like "discouraged" or "did not support". Using more precise language will make sure that your message is more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discouraged

Direct synonym indicating active opposition.

did not support

Focuses on the lack of active backing or endorsement.

did not promote

Highlights the absence of efforts to advance or popularize.

did not foster

Emphasizes the failure to nurture or cultivate.

did not endorse

Stresses the lack of formal approval or support.

did not advocate

Indicates the absence of public support or recommendation.

did not recommend

Highlights the lack of suggestion or advice in favor of something.

did not incentivize

Focuses on the absence of motivation or reward.

offered no encouragement

Rephrases the lack of support with a slightly different structure.

poured cold water on

Idiomatic expression indicating discouragement by expressing negativity.

FAQs

How can I use "did not encourage" in a sentence?

Use "did not encourage" to express a lack of support or motivation for a particular action or idea. For example: "The coach "did not encourage" risky plays during the game."

What are some alternatives to "did not encourage"?

Alternatives include "discouraged", "did not support", "did not promote", or "did not foster", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "did not encourage" or "discouraged"?

While both phrases convey a lack of support, "discouraged" implies a more active opposition. "Did not encourage" suggests a passive lack of motivation, whereas discouraged indicates an active attempt to prevent something.

What's the difference between "did not encourage" and "did not allow"?

"Did not encourage" means there was no active support or motivation, while "did not allow" means something was explicitly prohibited. One implies a lack of support, the other a restriction.