encouraging with

USAGE SUMMARY

'encouraging with' is not a correct phrase in written English.
If you want to use it, you could convert it to the phrase 'encouraging with [something]'. For example: "He was encouraging with words of affirmation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Storyboard was encouraging with Sam.

The New Yorker

She has been terribly encouraging with my writing.

Independent

Nevertheless, the early signs thus far are encouraging with a mere few weeks to go.

The Guardian - Business

The counts have been encouraging, with the roost tending to grow at a gentle rate.

The Guardian

West led the heart nine, East encouraging with his four (reverse signals) under dummy's king.

The New York Times

The early signs are encouraging with his support of charities such as Tusk and his brother's charity Sentabale.

The Guardian

It said its performance since the start of its second half had been encouraging, with strong demand for new homes.

The Guardian - Business

Analyst Wyn Ellis at Numis said: The first quarter trading statement is encouraging with the yield performance notably strong.

The Guardian - Business

West ruffed and led the heart king, Prahin (East) encouraging with the three, an upside-down signal.

The New York Times

The movement among France's attacking trio was encouraging, with the supporting cast from midfield also keen to arrive in search of a goal.

The Guardian - Sport

The new experiment is encouraging with respect to the telomere problem because the cow cells being cloned were old and had short telomeres.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encouraging" consider restructuring your sentence to include a more direct verb or adjective that accurately reflects the type of support being offered. For example, instead of "encouraging with", try "supportive of", "helpful with", or rephrase the sentence to use "encourage" as a verb.

Common error

Avoid using "encouraging with" without specifying what is being encouraged. The phrase often sounds incomplete or grammatically awkward. Always clarify the object of encouragement or restructure the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encouraging with" functions primarily as an adjective-preposition combination, typically used to describe something that provides support or motivation. However, as Ludwig AI points out, its standalone usage is often grammatically questionable and requires careful contextualization to avoid awkwardness. Examples in Ludwig show its use across varied domains, though often reframed for better clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encouraging with" is frequently found across various sources, as Ludwig's analysis demonstrates. However, Ludwig AI highlights its potential for grammatical awkwardness. While often used to convey support or motivation, it benefits from careful contextualization or rephrasing to improve clarity. Alternatives such as "supportive of" or "helpful with" may offer more direct and grammatically sound options. To ensure clarity and correctness, consider restructuring sentences where "encouraging with" appears, clarifying the object of encouragement, or using "encourage" as the main verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supportive of

This alternative replaces "encouraging" with a more direct synonym and changes the preposition to "of".

aiding with

This replaces "encouraging" with a more direct synonym that signifies assistance provided.

helpful with

This substitutes "encouraging" with "helpful", emphasizing assistance provided.

boosting with

This alternative conveys the idea of enhancing or improving something by using a particular method or resource.

positive about

This shifts the focus to a general optimistic attitude.

motivating through

This phrase replaces "encouraging" focusing specifically on the act of inspiring or driving someone to act.

optimistic regarding

This alternative uses a more formal register to express a hopeful outlook.

enabling through

This signifies providing the means or opportunity for something to happen.

fostering with

This alternative replaces "encouraging" with a verb that suggests active development and the preposition remains the same.

promoting through

This suggests active advocacy or advancement using something as a means.

FAQs

How can I properly use the word "encouraging" in a sentence?

Use "encouraging" as an adjective followed by a noun (e.g., "encouraging words") or as part of a verb phrase (e.g., "They encourage participation"). Avoid using the standalone phrase "encouraging with" without specifying what you are encouraging.

What can I say instead of "encouraging with" to sound more grammatically correct?

Consider alternatives like "supportive of", "helpful with", or rephrase the sentence using "encourage" as a verb.

Is it always wrong to use the phrase "encouraging with"?

While not strictly grammatically incorrect in every context, "encouraging with" is often awkward and can be improved by rephrasing for clarity and better flow. Consider specifying what you are encouraging someone with.

What's the difference between "encouraging with" and other prepositions like "in" or "at" when describing support?

The preposition "with" implies using something as a means of encouragement. While potentially valid, it's often less direct than using "in" or "at" to describe the area where support is given (e.g., "encouraging in math" or "skilled at encouraging").