elicit conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

'elicit conversation' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to encourage someone to talk or to draw out information. For example, "The professor was adept at eliciting conversation from his students about the assigned readings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For example, one of the new cases developed for this program described a study in which a group therapy model was proposed to elicit conversation between mothers and daughters about adolescent sexual behaviors.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I knew that our pursuit of this authentic food would naturally elicit conversations about culture, identity, and moms, like any good meal would". Amrit made a strong case for his film, like any good lawyer would.

HuffPost

"We try to cater to families," Ms. Portell said, "to offer something that speaks to adults and also to children, and that elicits conversation between them.

The New York Times

"She led classes that accommodated different levels of prior policy experience, eliciting conversation, critical thinking, and discussion.

University of Chicago

Through eliciting conversations with the patient, the treating emergency department physician determined that in 34.5% (CI 22.0%too 47.1%) of the patients, nonadherence is partly attributable to the patient's financial limitations.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

In this study, we examine the first few tasks, which are framed as an example of 'making conjectures.' These segments of the animated scenario elicited conversations among the participants that contained descriptions of students related to instructional work around conjecturing tasks.

International Journal of STEM Education

Leadership roles can involve a wide range of communication challenges— mentoring a struggling colleague, persuading investors of your brand, rallying an auditorium of new employees, working the room at an industry event, handling tough questions from the media, running team meetings in ways that elicit candid conversation and learning.

Columbia University

My goal is for my images and the art that is built out of them to come with a message and elicit a conversation and, as inspired, an action.

Forbes

"It can elicit real conversation that people wouldn't be having otherwise," she added.

HuffPost

"Hopefully it elicits a conversation and gets people thinking about how they use animals in their daily lives," Peter says.

The Guardian - Arts

It isn't simple darkness, but darkness imbued with every dark fact she has elicited in conversation that day.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elicit conversation" when you want to actively encourage someone to express their thoughts or feelings, especially when they might be hesitant or reserved.

Common error

While acceptable, overuse of "elicit conversation" in overly formal or academic writing might make your tone sound too forceful. Consider alternatives like "encourage discussion" or "foster communication" for a more nuanced approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elicit conversation" functions as a verb phrase + noun combination. It describes the act of drawing out or prompting conversation from someone. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elicit conversation" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the act of drawing out or prompting conversation. Ludwig AI indicates that it is effective for encouraging someone to talk or to draw out information. While its register is generally neutral to formal, it is most commonly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, consider the specific context and your desired tone; alternative phrases like "spark a conversation" or "stimulate discussion" may be more appropriate in some situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark a conversation

Focuses on initiating a conversation, differing from merely drawing it out.

prompt dialogue

Emphasizes the act of urging or instigating conversation.

stimulate discussion

Highlights encouraging in-depth talk around a topic.

foster communication

Indicates the nurturing or promotion of ongoing communication.

generate dialogue

Focuses on creating or producing conversation.

initiate a discussion

Emphasizes the beginning of a formal conversation.

encourage discourse

Highlights supporting or promoting formal discussion.

draw out conversation

Focuses on extracting or extending an existing conversation.

provoke discussion

Suggests inciting or triggering a discussion, possibly controversial.

open up dialogue

Highlights creating opportunities for conversation to begin.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "elicit conversation" in a sentence?

You can use "elicit conversation" when you want to describe the act of drawing out or prompting a discussion, for example, "The facilitator used open-ended questions to "elicit conversation" among the participants."

What are some alternative phrases to "elicit conversation"?

Instead of "elicit conversation", you could use phrases like "spark a conversation", "prompt dialogue", or "stimulate discussion" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "elicit conversation" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "elicit conversation" is generally acceptable for formal writing, but consider the specific context. In some cases, more subtle alternatives like "encourage discourse" or "foster communication" might be more suitable.

How does "elicit conversation" differ from "initiate conversation"?

"Elicit conversation" implies drawing out a conversation that might already be latent or hesitant, whereas "initiate conversation" simply means starting a conversation, regardless of whether there was any prior inclination to talk.