encourage doing something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encourage doing something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of spurring someone on to action. For example, "The professor's inspiring words encouraged the class to create innovative solutions to the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Encourage doing something else and make sure all shared activities aren't television.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Maybe it is better to have an expense that would diminish the profit to encourage to do something more sustainable and reward the sustainable processes.

HuffPost

If they are your friends and they encourage to do something like smoke on school grounds, don't do it.

WikiHow

One hand punishes those who break certain aspects of their moral code; the other massages and encourages those who are doing something far more harmful.

The Guardian - Opinion

The second was Tillmans's acknowledgment that "what is at work in every picture of mine is a mixture of actively doing something, encouraging a picture, while also letting it happen – letting chance play a role".

The Guardian - Arts

Even employees who may not have these kinds of talents should be encouraged to do something that feels creative and fun.

Harvard Business Review

For any ballet class or piano lesson or sports practice, people who do not want to be there are encouraged to do something else, because they are unteachable.

HuffPost

If you watch the financial media, you will be encouraged to "do something," based on its lame "explanations" of what amounts to nothing more than the normal behavior of the market.

HuffPost

Landfarming, he explained, is a practice promoted by government and industry, where farmers are encouraged to do something rather illogical to spread waste from oil wells across their land.

Vice

"How can I, in this case, get enough people to feel the danger so they'll be encouraged to do something?" "The Protectors" is another one of those pieces that only begins to hint at where character could go — 10 minutes is rarely enough, especially for a feature filmmaker.

Los Angeles Times

One consumer, in a written comment, said that being encouraged to do something nice instead of injuring herself always made her feel that no-one understood how bad she felt, likening it to being given paracetamol for a brain tumour.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encourage doing something", ensure that the context clearly defines what action is being encouraged. Clarity enhances the impact of your encouragement.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice when you could more directly express who is doing the encouraging. Active voice makes your writing more engaging and direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encourage doing something" functions as a verb followed by a gerund phrase. It suggests promoting or supporting an action. As noted by Ludwig, this phrasing is grammatically correct and conveys a clear message of endorsement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "encourage doing something" is a grammatically correct phrase used to promote or support a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. While relatively rare, it appears across various contexts, including news, wiki articles, and scientific texts. To enhance clarity, clearly define the action being encouraged and avoid overuse of passive voice. Related phrases include "promote action" and "foster engagement".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

promote action

Focuses on promoting action without specifying the method of encouragement.

foster engagement

Highlights the aspect of creating a more profound connection or involvement.

inspire activity

Emphasizes inspiring action, suggesting a more motivational approach.

motivate participation

Focuses on motivating people to participate in something.

incite to act

Suggests a more forceful or urgent prompting to take action.

persuade to take action

Focuses on the act of convincing someone to act.

spur into motion

Implies a sudden burst of action or movement.

stimulate involvement

Focuses on the aspect of stimulating participation in something.

prompt to engage

Highlights the act of prompting or initiating engagement.

catalyze initiative

Suggests accelerating the start or progress of an initiative.

FAQs

How can I use "encourage doing something" in a sentence?

You can use "encourage doing something" to suggest promoting or supporting a specific activity. For instance, "The program aims to "encourage doing something" creative in their free time".

What are some alternatives to "encourage doing something"?

Alternatives include "promote action", "foster engagement", or "inspire activity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "encourage doing something"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The verb "encourage" can be followed by a gerund phrase, making "encourage doing something" a valid construction.

What's the difference between "encourage to do" and "encourage doing"?

"Encourage to do" is followed by an infinitive (e.g., "encourage to act"), while "encourage doing" uses a gerund (e.g., "encourage acting"). Both are valid, but they may subtly shift the emphasis of the sentence.