elicit remarks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elicit remarks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of drawing out comments or responses from others, often in a context of conversation or inquiry. Example: "The speaker's thought-provoking questions were designed to elicit remarks from the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wearing a suit has fallen out of favour in most workplaces, but that can be rectified by opting for soft tailoring that's unlined and unstructured, which is far easier to wear than anything strict or severe and won't elicit teasing remarks about court appearances from the office wag.

Independent

Herzog asks his usual philosophical, probing questions that elicit unexpected remarks from the scientists.

Huffington Post

Prosecutors and jailers said it was a coincidence, but Dekraai's attorney insisted it was part of a widespread operation to elicit incriminating remarks from defendants who were represented by lawyers, a violation of their rights.

Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors and jailers said, in this case, it was a coincidence, but Dekraai's attorney insisted it was part of an operation to elicit incriminating remarks from defendants who were represented by lawyers, a violation of their rights under federal law.

Los Angeles Times

Critics lament and the earnest gripe whenever affluent women are portrayed doing too much shopping and not enough deposition taking, but a minstrelsy of working-class life goes on, eliciting few remarks.

The New York Times - Arts

Similarly, in Brewer v. Williams, supra, we applied Massiah to a situation in which a police detective purposefully isolated a suspect from his lawyers and, during a long ride in a police car, elicited incriminating remarks from the defendant through skillful interrogation.

Cornell University

Besides eliciting positive remarks on these, the most astounding was management's response an imminent announcement to up 737 production rates that investors would be happy.

Forbes

A big thank you to Nora Ephron for noting — and to Ms. Dowd for eliciting the remark — that there are too many people walking the city streets with cups of coffee.

The New York Times

Unsurprisingly, his remarks elicited a variety of strong responses from members of America's writing community.

The Guardian - Books

His remarks elicited a storm of reaction, much of it positive, but some of it hostile.

The New York Times

Unsurprisingly, Engdahl's remarks elicited a variety of strong responses from members of America's writing community today.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elicit remarks" when you want to emphasize a deliberate attempt to draw out specific comments or opinions from someone, especially in a formal setting or when the remarks are of particular importance.

Common error

Avoid using "elicit remarks" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "get comments" or "ask for opinions" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elicit remarks" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "elicit" (verb) takes "remarks" (noun) as its object. It describes the action of causing or drawing out comments or opinions from someone. Ludwig indicates that this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elicit remarks" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of drawing out comments or opinions from someone. While it's not overly common, Ludwig confirms its validity and usage in various contexts, primarily in news, academic and scientific sources. It's best suited for neutral to formal settings where a deliberate effort is made to gather feedback or stimulate discussion. For more informal situations, simpler alternatives like "get comments" or "ask for opinions" might be more appropriate. Consider related phrases such as "draw out comments" or "prompt responses" for alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

draw out comments

Focuses on the action of extracting comments, slightly different emphasis than prompting.

prompt responses

Emphasizes the act of prompting and the generation of any kind of responses, not only remarks.

invite comments

Highlights the act of inviting or encouraging comments, making it more polite.

provoke comments

Suggests that the comments are stimulated by something controversial or intriguing.

extract comments

Emphasizes the effort required to get the comments.

stimulate discussion

Focuses more on initiating a broader discussion rather than just individual remarks.

generate feedback

Highlights the production of feedback, which can be more formal and structured than remarks.

solicit feedback

Emphasizes a formal request for feedback, making it more directed.

encourage dialogue

Focuses on fostering an exchange of ideas rather than just individual statements.

initiate discussion

Similar to stimulate discussion but implies a more active role in starting the conversation.

FAQs

How can I use "elicit remarks" in a sentence?

You can use "elicit remarks" to describe an action taken to get someone to comment or share their opinion. For example: "The interviewer used open-ended questions to elicit remarks from the interviewee."

What are some alternatives to "elicit remarks"?

You can use alternatives like "draw out comments", "prompt responses", or "invite comments depending on the context.

Is "elicit remarks" formal or informal?

"Elicit remarks" tends to be more formal. In informal settings, consider using phrases like "get comments" or "ask for opinions".

What's the difference between "elicit remarks" and "ask for comments"?

"Elicit remarks" implies a more deliberate and strategic effort to draw out comments, whereas "ask for comments" is a more direct and straightforward request.