encourages

USAGE SUMMARY

"encourages" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to express that someone supports, motivates, or inspires another person to do something. Example: My professor encourages me to pursue my passion for writing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet nearly all advertising for sanitary products encourages us to hide this chunk of our lives – three thousand days for most women – by preventing leaks that might embarrass us and everyone else; by ensuring we don't, God forbid, smell of menstrual blood; by putting menstruation behind locked doors and safely enclosed in euphemism.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is easy to see who has not participated, and encourages all students to do so.

The Guardian

Strange enough to be worth a watch by grown-ups too, John Motson and England's Rachel Yankey join forces in a new show that encourages children into football by emphasising passing, thinking, skills and playing as a team.

The Guardian - Sport

The government will today propose the biggest overhaul of child maintenance for a decade, arguing that the current system encourages conflict between parents.

The Guardian

Another accusation may be that getting paid to tweet encourages self-censorship.

The Guardian - Opinion

The biennial Red Nose Day UK fundraiser encourages people to "do something funny for money" in their school, community or workplace.

The Guardian

The Islam of north Africa, where most of France's Muslims come from, belongs to the Maliki school – a tolerant and easygoing tradition that does not force women to wear veils and encourages such non-fundamentalist activities as music, Sufi mysticism, superstition and magic.

The Guardian - Opinion

Reassertion of a party's moral purpose encourages its supporters to withstand the periods of hard pounding that every government has to endure.

The Guardian - Opinion

Confirming the UK's withdrawal, the new Foreign Office minister, Lady Anelay, highlighted an "unintended pull factor"' of search and rescue: "that it encourages more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing, thereby leading to more tragic and unnecessary deaths".

The Guardian - Opinion

The MEP is a friendly and non-confrontational style of learning that encourages classes to engage in pupil-led discussions to find solutions to maths problems, so the teacher orchestrates the activities but does not lead the lesson in the traditional way.

The Guardian

Whereas European governments which have been building high speed lines have a policy of cheap fares which encourages their use, in Britain the government – whether Tory or Labour – insists on a "business case" and a rate of return on the investment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encourages", ensure the subject clearly indicates who or what is providing the encouragement, and the object specifies the action or behavior being encouraged. This creates clarity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using overly broad or ambiguous subjects with "encourages". For example, instead of saying 'Society encourages...', specify which aspects of society are doing the encouraging for a more precise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "encourages" is that of a transitive verb. It expresses an action exerted by a subject on an object, indicating that the subject provides support, confidence, or incentive. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "encourages" is a transitive verb used to describe the act of giving support or incentive for a particular action or behavior. As shown by Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct term with a high frequency of use across various domains. Common contexts include News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When writing with "encourages", ensure clarity by specifying the subject and the action being encouraged. Consider synonyms like "promotes" or "motivates" to add nuance to your writing. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "encourages" to convey support and motivation in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

promotes

Focuses more on actively advancing or supporting something.

fosters

Implies nurturing and developing something over time.

stimulates

Suggests inciting or arousing activity or interest.

motivates

Highlights the act of providing someone with a reason to do something.

inspires

Emphasizes the act of filling someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, often creatively.

supports

Indicates providing assistance or approval to help something succeed.

facilitates

Focuses on making an action or process easier.

incentivizes

Highlights providing a financial or other material incentive to do something.

urges

Indicates a strong request or recommendation.

advises

Suggests offering counsel or guidance.

FAQs

How can I use "encourages" in a sentence?

"Encourages" is used to indicate that someone or something gives support, confidence, or hope to someone else to do something. For example, "The coach encourages the team to practice hard".

What are some synonyms for "encourages"?

Alternatives to "encourages" include "promotes", "fosters", or "motivates", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "encourages" or "motivates"?

Both "encourages" and "motivates" are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Encourages" implies giving support or hope, while "motivates" suggests providing a reason or incentive to act. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "encourages" and "allows"?

"Encourages" means to give support or confidence, while "allows" simply means to permit or not prevent. "Encourages" implies active support, whereas "allows" is more passive.