exercising agency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exercising agency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of making choices or taking actions based on one's own will or authority. Example: "In a democratic society, citizens are encouraged to engage in political discussions, exercising agency to influence decisions that affect their lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Because through representing pressure – in all of its different forms- as a risk to health – young people are rendered powerless and incapable of exercising agency.

Independent

As Ellis Cose knows, blacks want sermons about exercising agency, not elaborate analyses about how they are hopelessly stigmatized; there is something about "The Anatomy of Racial Inequality" that, like the philosopher's God, gives cold comfort to the faithful.

The New York Times - Books

Effective learners are aware of themselves as active agents capable of exercising agency through various strategies to actively shape their learning experiences as well as their motivational responses (Bown 2009 as cited in Mercer 2011).

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

For our purposes, Benson's proposal can be treated as an account of autonomy because the capacity for free agency is also thought of as a capacity for exercising agency that is one's own.

SEP

Exercising agency may therefore depend on relationality, which refers to the social networks through which agency can be expressed and distributed.

BMC Health Services Research

(UK physician in home care setting, case GPROT1) Decisional closeness was also reduced by emphasising the fact that no other decision could have been taken, thus reducing participants' scope for exercising agency.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I needed to witness firsthand what was happening there, and wanted to offer solidarity to those fighting for the right of tribes to exercise agency over their own futures.

The Guardian

The main question addressed is how women exercise agency in embedding spatial practices within their livelihood strategies to reconnect to the city.

Journal of Transport Geography

In the case of inter-ethnic encounters, actors or parties exercise agency to negotiate acceptable terms of reciprocal engagements.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

Accordingly, we consider how students learn (Pellegrino et al. [2001]; Shavelson and Ruiz-Primo [2005]), how they exercise agency in participating in and learning through work, and on what bases and for what purposes they exercise this agency.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

However, they tend to overlook the role of inter-ethnic tensions in partnerships and the ways global South actors exercise agency in achieving cooperation.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or formal writing, use "exercising agency" to underscore the active role of individuals or entities in shaping outcomes or processes. This adds a layer of intentionality and responsibility to the analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "exercising agency" in contexts where external constraints significantly limit genuine choice or control. Overstating autonomy can misrepresent the realities of systemic barriers or limited resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exercising agency" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the act of putting one's capacity for independent action into practice. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable. The examples show it describing individuals or groups making choices and influencing outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exercising agency" is a grammatically correct phrase that describes the act of putting one's ability to act independently into practice. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and appropriateness across various contexts. While predominantly used in scientific and news-related sources, it conveys a sense of autonomy and control. When using this phrase, consider related alternatives like "demonstrating autonomy" or "taking initiative" to add nuance to your writing. Be mindful of overstating individual autonomy when using this phrase, and ensure it aligns with the context of limited choices or constraints.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acting independently

This phrase stresses the freedom from external control or influence in one's actions.

demonstrating autonomy

This phrase highlights independence and self-governance in decision-making and actions.

assuming control

This phrase emphasizes taking charge and directing a situation or one's own actions.

exerting influence

This alternative emphasizes the act of having an effect on something or someone, focusing on the impact of one's actions.

enacting self-determination

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the right and power to decide one's own future or course of action.

taking initiative

This alternative underscores the proactive aspect of agency, emphasizing the act of starting or pursuing something without external prompting.

driving one's actions

This alternative focuses on the motivational aspect of agency, highlighting the internal forces behind one's behavior.

making choices

This alternative focuses on the decision-making aspect of agency, highlighting the power to select from different options.

effecting volition

A more formal and philosophical alternative, emphasizing the power of one's will to bring about an action or result.

applying discretion

This phrase highlights the use of one's own judgment and careful consideration in making decisions.

FAQs

How can I use "exercising agency" in a sentence?

You can use "exercising agency" to describe someone taking control and making independent decisions, such as, "The students were "exercising agency" over their learning by choosing their project topics".

What are some alternatives to "exercising agency"?

Alternatives include "demonstrating autonomy", "taking initiative", or "acting independently", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "exercising agency" or "having agency"?

"Exercising agency" describes the act of using one's ability to make choices and act, while "having agency" describes the state of possessing that ability. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action or the state.

In what contexts is "exercising agency" most appropriate?

"Exercising agency" is suitable in contexts where individuals or groups actively make choices and influence their circumstances. It's often used in discussions of empowerment, autonomy, and self-determination, across science, news and media.