encouraging discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "encouraging discussion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a topic that requires participation from others. For example: "By encouraging discussion, I hope to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable to share their thoughts and ideas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

This is best achieved by encouraging discussion, yet many aspects of Prevent inhibit this.

The Guardian

"Schools' best contribution to countering any behaviour that could be a problem is by encouraging discussion.

The Guardian

Director George Amponsah shares this appetite for shifting convention, encouraging discussion and tantalising film fans with thought-provoking film narratives.

The Guardian - Film

By encouraging discussion and group activity, and minimising the students' dependence on senior programmers, he believes they are forced to learn more quickly and intuitively.

The Guardian - Tech

But that debate depends on having both positions fairly presented and on encouraging discussion -- something Tribe's review manifestly does not do.

The New York Times

Yet Mr. Oettinger, 58, has won cautious praise from environmental groups for promoting "decarbonization" — jargon for removing carbon dioxide emissions — and for encouraging discussion about using vastly more renewable sources.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Health care professionals, especially nurses, through their contact with patients, play an important role in encouraging discussions about sexual concerns.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

The executive editor and managing editors encourage discussion.

The New York Times

The Chinese government does not exactly encourage discussion of the subject.

The New York Times

Richard Staveley, head of marketing at Protein World, said: "We want to encourage discussion on this.

The Guardian

We're going to encourage discussion across [BBC] News of the options open to us.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use "encouraging discussion" to create an inclusive and collaborative tone, particularly when aiming to gather diverse perspectives or foster shared understanding.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who is doing the encouraging. Instead of "Discussion was encouraged", specify who is "encouraging discussion" to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encouraging discussion" functions primarily as a gerund phrase, often serving as a noun in a sentence. It describes the act of promoting dialogue, conversation, or exchange of ideas. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "encouraging discussion" is a grammatically sound and commonly used gerund phrase that promotes open communication and collaboration. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It finds frequent use across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business domains. To maximize clarity, it's recommended to avoid passive voice constructions and specify who is encouraging the dialogue. Alternatives like "fostering dialogue" and "promoting conversation" offer nuanced ways to convey similar meanings. Using "encouraging discussion" effectively involves creating an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fostering dialogue

Focuses more on a structured exchange, implying a deeper level of engagement than simply encouraging.

promoting conversation

More general than discussion, suitable for casual contexts.

facilitating exchange of ideas

Emphasizes the reciprocal sharing of thoughts and perspectives.

sparking debate

Suggests a more argumentative or controversial setting, implying opposing viewpoints.

cultivating discourse

Implies a more formal and sustained exchange of ideas.

incentivizing participation

Highlights the act of providing motivation or reward to stimulate involvement.

invigorating dialogue

Implies that the dialogue was previously dull or lifeless and is now being made more active.

motivating deliberation

Focuses on the intent to stimulate careful consideration and decision-making.

instigating conversation

Highlights the action of starting or initiating a conversation, potentially with a sense of urgency.

advocating deliberation

Emphasizes the act of publicly recommending careful and thorough consideration of a topic.

FAQs

How can I use "encouraging discussion" in a sentence?

You can use "encouraging discussion" to describe actions or environments that promote open communication and exchange of ideas. For example, "The professor is "encouraging discussion" by asking open-ended questions".

What are some alternatives to "encouraging discussion"?

Alternatives include "fostering dialogue", "promoting conversation", or "facilitating exchange of ideas", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "encourage discussion" or "encouraging discussion"?

The choice depends on the grammatical structure of the sentence. "Encourage discussion" is a verb phrase, while "encouraging discussion" is a gerund phrase (acting as a noun). For example, "We encourage discussion" versus "Encouraging discussion is essential for learning".

What is the difference between "encouraging discussion" and "prompting discussion"?

"Encouraging discussion" implies creating a supportive environment for dialogue, while "prompting discussion" suggests initiating a conversation, often with specific questions or stimuli.