encourage crime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encourage crime" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in discussions about actions, policies, or statements that may promote or support criminal behavior. Example: "Some argue that certain media portrayals can inadvertently encourage crime among impressionable viewers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Officers may talk to locals or report problems, like broken lights or unsecured properties, that could encourage crime.

The Economist

Street lights in Devon account for around a third of the council's carbon emissions.Residents worry that cuts to late-night lighting will encourage crime.

The Economist

But residents of Potter Creek, a modest neighborhood adjacent to a stretch of San Pablo Avenue that serves as Berkeley's red-light district, believe the measure would encourage crime, with pimps and prostitutes taking over the neighborhood.

The New York Times

Fearing they could encourage crime, states began cracking down on their use.

Huffington Post

This caveat will be enforced by police, who will measure the lighting in clubs to ensure it is bright enough, the justification for this being that an environment that is too dark would encourage crime.

Vice

The police receive more truthful accounts, which facilitate successful prosecutions and encourage crime reporting.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

What made the program so controversial was that the FBI was attempting to create and encourage crimes rather than find actual criminals - all in order to punish those whose constitutionally protected political activism the US government found threatening.

The Guardian - Opinion

The lack of jobs has encouraged crime.

The Economist

This is the other, murkier side of those encouraging crime numbers.

The New York Times

The Netherlands is deeply distressed that toleration may be encouraging crime, to the point where its justice minister favours closing down the cannabis trade altogether.

The Guardian

"What's the point of us stripping at all?" one dancer sighs.Officials in Scottsdale, a higher-class neighbour of Phoenix, have fretted for some time that the sex business encourages crime and is not good for growth.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encourage crime" to describe situations where the unintended consequences of an action lead to increased criminal activity. For example, "poorly designed urban spaces can encourage crime".

Common error

Avoid implying a direct and sole cause-and-effect relationship when using "encourage crime". Acknowledge that multiple factors typically contribute to criminal behavior.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encourage crime" functions as a verb phrase, where "encourage" is the transitive verb and "crime" is its direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, indicating that it effectively conveys the action of promoting or fostering criminal behavior within a sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encourage crime" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe situations where actions or conditions may inadvertently promote criminal behavior. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys the notion of fostering or incentivizing illegal activities. Usage is mostly present in news and media and science contexts. While alternatives like "promote criminal activity" or "foster illegal behavior" exist, "encourage crime" is direct and widely understood. When using the phrase, avoid overstating causation and consider the multifaceted nature of criminal behavior. The various examples show that it's frequently used to discuss law, policy and safety issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

promote criminal activity

Replaces "encourage" with "promote", suggesting a more active role in fostering crime, with a slightly different emphasis on facilitating rather than simply encouraging.

foster illegal behavior

Substitutes both "encourage" and "crime" with synonyms that suggests a more general sense of nurturing or cultivating unlawful actions.

incentivize criminal acts

Uses "incentivize", implying that something is creating motivation to commit crimes by offering a reward or benefit.

facilitate criminal conduct

Focuses on making it easier for crime to occur, rather than directly promoting it.

contribute to lawlessness

Shifts the focus to the overall state of lawlessness, suggesting a broader impact than individual acts of crime.

create an environment conducive to crime

Highlights the role of the surrounding circumstances in enabling crime, rather than direct encouragement.

breed criminality

Implies that crime is naturally developing or spreading due to certain conditions. Stronger implication of natural or inevitable process.

give rise to illegal acts

Focuses on the origin or cause of crime, rather than the act of encouraging it.

cultivate a culture of lawbreaking

Suggests a broader societal shift towards accepting or promoting illegal activities.

fuel the rise in crime

Highlights the effect of something increasing the amount of crime.

FAQs

How can I use "encourage crime" in a sentence?

You can use "encourage crime" to describe situations where certain actions or policies inadvertently lead to an increase in criminal activities. For example: "Cutting funding for after-school programs may inadvertently "encourage crime" among teenagers".

What are some alternatives to saying "encourage crime"?

Alternatives include "promote criminal activity", "foster illegal behavior", or "incentivize criminal acts". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "encourage crime" or "lead to crime"?

"Encourage crime" suggests a more direct influence, while "lead to crime" implies a potential consequence. For example, saying something "encourages crime" indicates a more active role in promoting the behavior than simply stating it "leads to" it. It depends if it's a direct or indirect incentive.

What's the difference between "encourage crime" and "enable crime"?

"Encourage crime" suggests promoting or incentivizing illegal activities, while "enable crime" implies providing the means or opportunity for criminal acts to occur. For instance, lax security measures might "enable crime", whereas certain policies might "encourage crime".