encourage competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encourage competition" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the promotion of rivalry or contest among individuals or groups, often in a business or educational context. Example: "The new policy aims to encourage competition among local businesses to foster innovation and improve services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Liberalizing services would encourage competition.

The New York Times

• Utility regulators to encourage competition in their industries.

The Guardian

Such changes would curb the state's role, lessen corruption and encourage competition.

The New York Times

Customer choice of schools and hospitals, for example—was to encourage competition and improve standards.

The Economist

She has said, though, that she supports a public option to encourage competition and reduce costs.

The New York Times

This was intended to encourage competition, but it led to fragmentation and duplication of efforts.

The Economist

This will encourage competition between businesses to produce more environmental alternatives to current products and services.

The Guardian

The strategy aims to encourage competition among its wholesale customers to increase demand.

The New York Times

But Pennsylvania, using a similar approach, managed to encourage competition without plunging its citizens into darkness.

The New Yorker

It requires the company to make some disclosures about its software code to encourage competition.

The New York Times

Like the interstate highway system, a national grid could eliminate bottlenecks and encourage competition.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encourage competition", clearly define the context in which competition is being fostered to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether you are referring to market competition, academic rivalry, or athletic contests.

Common error

Avoid presenting "encourage competition" as a universal solution without acknowledging potential downsides. Unbridled competition can sometimes lead to unethical behavior, reduced collaboration, or a focus on short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encourage competition" primarily functions as a verb phrase where "encourage" acts as a transitive verb and "competition" serves as its direct object. It indicates an action taken to promote or foster a state of rivalry. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encourage competition" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression for promoting rivalry across various sectors. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous examples from reputable sources, confirms its widespread applicability. It's essential to use the phrase thoughtfully, considering its implications and potential drawbacks. While "encourage competition" is generally neutral, context dictates its precise connotation. Remember, it's crucial to specify the type of competition being encouraged to provide clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foster rivalry

This alternative emphasizes the antagonistic aspect of competition, highlighting the striving to outdo others.

promote competitiveness

This alternative highlights the act of making something more competitive, rather than the act of encouraging the competition itself.

stimulate market forces

This alternative focuses on activating the economic factors that drive competition in a market.

incentivize participation

This alternative concentrates on providing rewards or motivations to increase involvement, which can indirectly lead to competition.

cultivate a competitive spirit

This alternative emphasizes the development of an attitude or mindset that values competition.

spur innovation

This alternative focuses on the outcome of encouraging competition, which is often increased creativity and the development of new ideas.

foster a level playing field

This alternative focuses on creating fair conditions that allow competition to flourish.

encourage free enterprise

This alternative focuses on encouraging unrestricted business activity, where competition is a natural consequence.

boost market dynamism

This alternative underscores enhancing the active and changing nature of a marketplace through competition.

galvanize the sector

This alternative implies energizing or stimulating an industry to become more active and competitive.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "encourage competition" in a sentence?

Use "encourage competition" to describe actions that promote rivalry or contest among individuals or groups. For example: "The new policy aims to "encourage competition" among local businesses."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "encourage competition"?

You can use alternatives such as "foster rivalry", "promote competitiveness", or "stimulate market forces" depending on the specific context.

Is it always beneficial to "encourage competition"?

While encouraging competition can drive innovation and efficiency, it's important to consider potential negative impacts, such as unethical behavior or reduced collaboration. A balanced approach is often necessary.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the phrase "encourage competition"?

The phrase "encourage competition" is suitable in various contexts, including business, education, and sports, where the goal is to promote rivalry or contest among individuals or groups to achieve better outcomes.