discourage us from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discourage us from" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to actions or influences that deter someone from pursuing a particular course of action. Example: "The negative feedback may discourage us from applying for the grant." Alternative expressions include "deter us from" and "prevent us from."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

My first "breakdown" (therapists discourage us from using that word these days, but that's what it felt like) in my third year of university built as my fear of having a panic attack became a 24/7 obsession.

Vice

"In fact some discourage us from even using the Web site as a source of basic research," he said.

The New York Times

Our anger at the management team at United should not discourage us from doing the right thing," he said.

The New York Times

PETER MINUIT: (exasperated ) If you are trying to discourage us from settling in this place, it will not work!

The New Yorker

The flies did discourage us from lingering along the way (they breed in running water), but were more a nuisance than a torment.

The New York Times

"This man who is so kind, so friendly, so cheerful, so simple, so congenial, why does he want to discourage us from living?" she wondered rhetorically.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The relatively poor results have discouraged us from using this design.

Acta Orthopaedica

Rather than discouraging us from playing, this actually makes the game even more enticing than if we won easily.

The Guardian

The engineered environments of Facebook, Google and the rest have increasingly discouraged us from engaging in an intellectually meaningful way.

The Guardian - Tech

Moreover, popular opinion discouraged us from house hunting in Stamford because the schools are said to be inferior.

The New York Times

I felt he was belittling me and my friend and discouraging us from being as good as we were.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "discourage us from", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the discouragement. Providing specific reasons or examples will enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid overstating the effect of discouragement. "Discourage us from" implies influence, not necessarily prevention. If the action is impossible, use "prevent" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discourage us from" functions as a verb phrase that expresses deterrence or dissuasion. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is used to convey that something is causing a reduction in enthusiasm or motivation to pursue a particular action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "discourage us from" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that indicates deterrence or dissuasion from a particular action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts. While similar phrases like "dissuade us from" or "deter us from" exist, "discourage us from" maintains a neutral register suitable for a variety of writing styles. Be mindful of overstating the level of deterrence; the phrase implies influence rather than absolute prevention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dissuade us from

Replaces "discourage" with a synonym that emphasizes persuasion against a course of action.

deter us from

Replaces "discourage" with a synonym that highlights the act of preventing or restraining.

prevent us from

Emphasizes the action of making something impossible.

hinder us from

Indicates creating difficulties or obstacles.

inhibit us from

Suggests restraining or suppressing an action.

restrain us from

Implies holding back or controlling an impulse or action.

impede us from

Focuses on slowing down or obstructing progress.

stop us from

Highlights a direct cessation of an action.

thwart us from

Emphasizes frustrating or preventing the success of an effort.

preclude us from

Indicates making something impossible or preventing it from happening.

FAQs

How can I use "discourage us from" in a sentence?

Use "discourage us from" to indicate something that deters or dissuades you and others from doing something. For example, "The high cost of living may discourage us from moving to that city."

What's a more formal way to say "discourage us from"?

More formal alternatives include "dissuade us from" or "deter us from". For example, "The company's policies dissuade us from taking personal days" sounds more formal than "The company's policies discourage us from taking personal days."

What verbs are similar to discourage in the phrase "discourage us from"?

Similar verbs include "prevent", "hinder", and "inhibit". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "discourage us from" always negative?

While often used in negative contexts, "discourage us from" can also be neutral, simply indicating a factor that influences a decision. The key is the intent and the resulting action.