espouse principles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "espouse principles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of adopting or supporting certain beliefs or values. Example: "The organization aims to espouse principles of sustainability and social responsibility in all its initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Democrats, regionally and nationally, should espouse principles, for ourselves and for our country".

The New Yorker

Its report calls on companies to adhere to the Global Compact's CEO Water Mandate guidelines, which espouse principles such as inclusiveness, respect for government's public mandate and transparency.

The Guardian

MR. ABDUL RAUF: It is a reaction against the policies of the U.S. government, politically, where we espouse principles of democracy and human rights and where we ally ourselves with oppressive regimes in many of these countries.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Putin too has espoused principles, then dropped them when they proved inconvenient.

BBC

In many cases, espoused principles of parsimony continued to wear their theological origins on their sleeves, as with Leibniz's thesis that God has created the best and most complete of all possible worlds, and his linking of this thesis to simplifying principles such as light always taking the (time-wise) shortest path.

SEP

Interaction designers often espouse general principles for creating more usable and satisfying systems.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In 1904 Jaurès was cofounder of the newspaper L'Humanité, in which he continued to espouse the principles of democratic socialism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Rice's meeting with officials from the smaller parties was part of an effort to bolster groups that espouse democratic principles and support Karzai.

The Washington Post

Food prices are rising.Yet Tunisia's ability to compromise between those who espouse Islamist principles in government and those who want to keep religion out of public affairs has given it the edge over other Arab states in transition.

The Economist

(This article passed because 46 Nahda members of the assembly, including a large cohort of the party's female parliamentarians, voted in favour of it).Tunisia's ability to broker compromise between those who espouse Islamist principles in government and those who want to keep religion out of public affairs has given it the edge over other Arab states in transition.

The Economist

They espouse the principles of architectural design, the history and the theory, and prepare its hopeful alumni to create the next Seagram Building or Guggenheim.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "espouse principles", ensure the subject clearly demonstrates active support and advocacy, not just passive agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "espouse principles" to describe actions that merely align with certain principles; ensure the subject explicitly advocates for those principles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "espouse principles" functions as a verb phrase, where "espouse" is the verb indicating adoption or support, and "principles" is the noun representing the set of beliefs or values being supported. Ludwig's analysis confirms this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "espouse principles" is grammatically correct and serves to convey active support and advocacy for specific beliefs or values. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's most commonly found in News & Media, Science and Academia contexts. While "espouse principles" is not exceptionally frequent, its use in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian lends it credibility. Alternatives such as "embrace tenets" or "uphold values" offer similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis. When using "espouse principles", make sure it is about active support and explicit advocacy of said principles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

embrace tenets

Focuses on accepting and adhering to a set of fundamental beliefs.

advocate doctrines

Highlights the act of publicly supporting and promoting a particular set of beliefs.

uphold values

Emphasizes the act of maintaining and defending a set of moral or ethical standards.

support ideals

Focuses on giving assistance and approval to guiding beliefs or standards.

defend convictions

Highlights the act of protecting and justifying firmly held beliefs or opinions.

promote philosophies

Focuses on actively encouraging the acceptance and spread of particular systems of thought.

champion causes

Highlights the act of vigorously supporting and fighting for particular aims or beliefs.

profess creeds

Emphasizes the open declaration of particular religious beliefs or systems of faith.

maintain standards

Focuses on upholding a required level of quality or attainment.

adopt beliefs

Highlights the act of choosing to accept and follow a particular set of beliefs.

FAQs

How can I use "espouse principles" in a sentence?

Use "espouse principles" to describe individuals, groups, or organizations that publicly advocate for and support a specific set of guiding beliefs or values. For example, "The party aims to "espouse principles" of social justice and equality".

What does it mean to "espouse principles"?

To "espouse principles" means to adopt, support, and advocate for a particular set of beliefs, values, or guidelines. It implies an active endorsement and promotion of these ideals.

What are some alternatives to "espouse principles"?

Alternatives include "embrace tenets", "advocate doctrines", or "uphold values", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "espouse to principles" instead of "espouse principles"?

No, the correct usage is "espouse principles". The verb "espouse" directly takes the object (in this case, "principles") without the need for a preposition like "to".