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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

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encourages that

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encourages that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where one is suggesting or promoting a particular action or behavior, but it should be followed by a clause that begins with "to" or a noun phrase instead. Example: "The organization encourages that students participate in community service."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Education encourages that divide.

News & Media

The Economist

Electronics both aids and encourages that approach.

News & Media

The Economist

Displaying the new Kindles encourages that behavior, analysts said.

News & Media

The New York Times

PR encourages that culture to emerge; AV doesn't.

Mr. Helmken, like other bankers here, encourages that hesitation.

News & Media

The New York Times

"A metronome-like gesture actually encourages that thought, even if she is saying something different".

News & Media

Independent
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

"We don't encourage that".

News & Media

The New York Times

Computers seem to encourage that mindset.

News & Media

Independent

His chatty stump speeches encourage that belief.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We're not afraid to encourage that".

News & Media

The New York Times

We don't encourage that, of course.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "encourages that" directly. Instead, rephrase to include a verb or noun that correctly connects the encouragement to a specific action or belief, for instance use "encourages the belief that" or "encourages someone to do something."

Common error

A frequent mistake is using "encourages that" to directly introduce a clause without proper grammatical structure. To correct this, ensure that "encourages" is followed by a noun phrase or an infinitive phrase, providing a clear and grammatically sound connection. For example, replace "It encourages that people participate" with "It "encourages people to participate"".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encourages that" functions as a verb phrase that aims to express support or promotion of an idea. However, it is often misused as it requires a different grammatical structure to be correct. It needs an object (a person) before the "to" (He encourages me to try). Ludwig AI indicates it's not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

23%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "encourages that" is often used to express support or promotion; however, Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. Grammatically, it is better to use alternative phrases such as "promotes the idea that" or to rephrase the sentence to include a noun or infinitive phrase, such as ""encourages participation"". While commonly found in news and media sources, it's important to ensure grammatically correct usage for clarity and credibility.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "encourages" in a sentence?

To use "encourages" correctly, follow it with a noun phrase or an infinitive phrase. For example, "The program "encourages participation"" or "The teacher "encourages students to ask questions"" are grammatically sound.

What are some alternatives to "encourages that"?

Instead of "encourages that", consider using phrases like "promotes the idea that", "fosters the belief that", or "supports the notion that" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Is it ever correct to use "encourages that"?

While "encourages that" may occasionally appear in writing, it generally does not conform to standard English grammar. It's better to rephrase the sentence to use a grammatically correct structure such as "encourages the idea of" or "encourages someone to do something".

What's the difference between "encourages that" and "encourages to"?

"Encourages that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is to use "encourages to" only if an object (person or thing) is placed before "to". The verb "encourages" needs an object, followed by a verb. Example: "He "encourages me to try"".

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: