eliciting

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "eliciting" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something or someone that is causing a response or reaction. For example, "The teacher's knowledgeable words were eliciting interest from all the students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His freedom had come after a massive campaign was launched – eliciting the support of the actor Ray Winstone among others – to clear his name.

The Guardian

She was also responsible for eliciting a rare broad smile from Buster Keaton at the end of Le Roi des Champs-Elysées (The King of the Champs-Elysées, 1934), when she gives him a passionate kiss.

The Guardian - Film

No doubt part of the reason the occupation is eliciting such a widespread positive response is due to the lasting memory of student protests in the same building in 1969, which led to legislative changes giving students and staff a much greater say in how their universities were run.

The Guardian

It's hard to imagine another public service that could be cut so extensively without eliciting a national outcry.

The Guardian

Buy from Amazon.co.ukFAST bowlers are cricket's showmen, eliciting gasps as they hurl down deliveries capable of snapping batsmen's ribs.

The Economist

We ask, imitating local parlance as best we can, how the officers are doing, and promise "maybe next time", eliciting a round of laughter and avoiding a payoff entirely.This sort of interaction embodies a middle ground between the anarchic violence and routine verbal sparring that mark any given day in Lagos.

The Economist

In fact, the Department of Health is already eliciting public opinion about the NHS through a series of detailed annual patient surveys; two on GP services and the treatment of heart disease have already been completed.

The Economist

Asked to summarise his best technique for eliciting information from equivocating guests, he recommended a curious expression and the words, "Really?

The Economist

After conducting a July 2003 investigation into the pre-war intelligence processes, a former deputy chief of the CIA concluded that such "repetitive tasking" was partly aimed at eliciting the desired response.A more insidious example of the administration's whip-cracking ways was the intelligence-scanning cell established by Douglas Feith, an under-secretary of defence.

The Economist

For a change, workplace hanky-panky between men and women seems to be eliciting not outrage, but snickers.

The Economist

Fortunately, that doesn't happen often.Mr Sanders describes several encounters in which he questioned his stressed-out seatmates about their reasons for flying, eliciting stories of upcoming presentations or grandchildren to be met for the first time.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "eliciting", ensure that the subject performing the action clearly causes the response in the object. For example, "The comedian's jokes were eliciting laughter from the audience."

Common error

Avoid using "eliciting" when the subject does not directly cause the response. Instead of "The audience was eliciting laughter", use "The comedian was eliciting laughter from the audience".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "eliciting" is that of a present participle or gerund. As a participle, it modifies nouns or pronouns, describing an ongoing action or state. As a gerund, it functions as a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

49%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eliciting" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term that functions primarily as a present participle or gerund. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's correctly used to describe actions that provoke or draw out responses. Its use is common across various contexts, including News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. When employing "eliciting", make sure that the subject is actively causing the reaction in the object. Also, use alternatives like "drawing out", "evoking", or "prompting" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evoking

Emphasizes the act of calling forth a feeling, memory, or response.

drawing out

Focuses on the act of extracting something, like information or a reaction, from someone or something.

prompting

Suggests initiating or encouraging a specific action or response.

inducing

Highlights the act of persuading or causing something to happen.

provoking

Implies causing a strong reaction, often negative or controversial.

extracting

Focuses on carefully obtaining something, like data or a confession.

obtaining

A general term for getting or acquiring something, often information or a response.

generating

Highlights the creation or production of a response or outcome.

triggering

Implies initiating a specific event or reaction, often automatically.

sparking

Suggests initiating a sudden burst of activity or emotion.

FAQs

How to use "eliciting" in a sentence?

Use "eliciting" to describe something that provokes or draws out a response or reaction. For example, "The speaker's emotional appeal was eliciting tears from the audience."

What can I say instead of "eliciting"?

You can use alternatives like "drawing out", "evoking", or "prompting" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "eliciting" or "to elicit"?

"Eliciting" is the present participle and gerund form of the verb "elicit". Use "eliciting" when you need a continuous or noun form, while "to elicit" is the infinitive form and should be used as a verb in its base form.

What's the difference between "eliciting" and "evoking"?

"Eliciting" implies actively drawing out a response, while "evoking" suggests bringing something to mind or creating a feeling. Eliciting is more direct and intentional.