discourage smoking

USAGE SUMMARY

"discourage smoking" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used as an imperative statement to advise or urge someone to not smoke. Example: "Our school aims to discourage smoking among students to promote a healthy lifestyle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Consequently, the introduction of bans may help publicize the health impact of active and passive smoking on health and discourage smoking by restricting locations in which one can smoke.

BMC Public Health

The restaurants discourage smoking.

The New York Times - Travel

Also, he wants to discourage smoking.

The Economist

Suggestions for a govt. program to discourage smoking.

The New Yorker

All that happened in order to discourage smoking.

Independent

Now she is promoting programs that discourage smoking and encourage physical activity.

The New York Times - Sports

Such considerations helped give rise to a variety of policies that discourage smoking.

The New York Times

It is hard to know whether hiding the products would really work to discourage smoking.

The New York Times

Puritans and health nuts want to use taxes to discourage smoking.

The Economist

Governments say they are raising cigarette taxes not just to increase revenue, but also to discourage smoking.

The New York Times

"The detrimental effects of smoking on individuals and society make it 'right' for the government to discourage smoking," they argue.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about public health initiatives, use “discourage smoking” to clearly state the goal of reducing smoking rates, especially among vulnerable populations like teenagers.

Common error

Instead of saying "Smoking should be discouraged", use the active voice: "We should discourage smoking". This makes your writing more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discourage smoking" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of deterring or dissuading people from smoking. Ludwig confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase in written English, often used in imperative statements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discourage smoking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as verified by Ludwig. It functions as a verb phrase, primarily employed to advocate for or describe efforts aimed at reducing smoking rates. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Academia, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. Related alternatives include "deter smoking", "curb smoking", and "prevent smoking", each with subtle nuances in meaning. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct and usable phrase. To enhance writing, use the active voice and prioritize clarity when discussing public health initiatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deter smoking

Replaces "discourage" with "deter", implying a stronger preventative effect.

curb smoking

Uses "curb" instead of "discourage", suggesting a limitation or control of smoking.

reduce smoking

Focuses on decreasing the amount of smoking, rather than preventing it entirely.

prevent smoking

Emphasizes stopping smoking from starting or continuing.

discourage tobacco use

Replaces "smoking" with broader "tobacco use", including smokeless tobacco products.

combat smoking

Implies a fight or struggle against smoking.

fight against smoking

Focuses on the action against the practice of smoking.

discourage cigarette use

More specific form to deter the use of the most common method of smoking.

inhibit smoking

A more formal way of saying prevent smoking.

dissuade from smoking

Highlights the act of convincing someone not to smoke.

FAQs

How can I use "discourage smoking" in a sentence?

You can use "discourage smoking" to describe policies, campaigns, or personal efforts aimed at reducing smoking rates. For example, "The government implemented a new tax policy to "discourage smoking" among young adults."

What is a more formal way to say "discourage smoking"?

A more formal alternative is to use the phrase "inhibit smoking". This might be suitable for academic or scientific writing.

What can I say instead of "discourage smoking" to emphasize prevention?

To emphasize prevention, you could use "prevent smoking". This term highlights stopping smoking before it starts.

Is it better to say "discourage smoking" or "discourage smokers"?

"Discourage smoking" refers to the act itself, while "discourage smokers" targets the people who smoke. The first is usually preferred in public health contexts as it addresses the behavior, not the individual.