foster the debate

USAGE SUMMARY

'foster the debate' is correct and usable in written English.
It means to encourage discussion or to support a discussion that is already underway. Example: The company's leadership team wanted to foster the debate on ways to improve the efficiency of the workflow.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This article aims to foster the debate about the shared decision-making process.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This complexity of gene structure has probably fostered the debate and controversy on p63 function in cancer, with TP63-harboring two distinctive promoters, codifying for the TAp63 and ΔNp63 isoforms, and having discrete functions.

Cell Death and Disease

Nowadays the migration phenomenon has reached critical complexity; hence, we believe that it is time to provide an outlet devoted to promote publication excellence and to foster the public debate in the field of migration economics.

IZA Journal of Migration

In February, for example, student sexual assault survivors privately bristled when UVA hosted a national conference on rape, advertising that the event would "foster intellectual debate with the ability to reach interested audiences" while mostly excluding actual victims from speaking slots.

Huffington Post

But the resulting discussion did foster some debate about the "right" way to stack cheeseburger toppings.

TechCrunch

When the New York Times reporter asked President Barack Obama whether he was a socialist, this certainly wasn't a productive way to foster healthy debate over the appropriate role of the state in our crisis-ridden free market economy.

Huffington Post

Although President Bush's budget plan and proposed tax cut are certain to foster vigorous debate over the coming weeks, his two-day, five-state tour to promote them steered clear of tough questions.

The New York Times

Walter Gary Sharp, an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University who taught the course "The Law of 24" in 2007-8, said "24" acted as "a tool to foster public debate to help the public and the government of all nations to consider the proper limits on democracies in their efforts to combat terrorism".

The New York Times

The aim of the project was "to foster constructive debate among all those involved in scientific research about the culture of research in the UK and its effect on ethical conduct in science and the quality, value and accessibility of research; and to advance current debate through wide dissemination of the outcomes of these discussions".

F1000Research

When reports of a disagreement over Del Missier's leaving bonus emerged, the bank had insisted it was keen to foster debate in the boardroom.

The Guardian - Business

In September, he was also named president of the Institute of High Studies for Science and Technology (IHEST), which seeks to foster debate about the role of science in society and to buttress public trust in the scientific enterprise.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "foster the debate", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific debate you aim to encourage or support. Vague references can weaken the phrase's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "foster the debate" passively. This phrase implies actively creating conditions for a discussion to flourish, not merely observing or reporting on its existence.

Linguistic Context

Foster the debate" functions as a verb phrase. It's used to describe the action of encouraging or nurturing a discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. The phrase often appears in contexts where open and constructive dialogue is desired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "foster the debate" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the act of encouraging or supporting a discussion. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is usable in written English and implies creating conditions for a discussion to flourish. It's frequently found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Alternatives include "promote the debate", "encourage the debate", and "stimulate the debate". When using this phrase, it's important to actively create conditions for discussion, not just passively observe or report on its existence. This ensures the phrase maintains its intended impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

promote the debate

Focuses on actively encouraging the debate to happen or become more widespread.

encourage the debate

A more general term for giving support and confidence to the debate.

stimulate the debate

Highlights the act of initiating or invigorating the debate.

facilitate the debate

Emphasizes making the debate easier or more likely to occur.

advance the debate

Suggests moving the debate forward or making progress in the discussion.

nurture the debate

Implies carefully supporting and developing the debate over time.

fuel the debate

Highlights the act of providing substance or energy to the debate.

cultivate the debate

Suggests carefully creating and maintaining an environment for the debate to thrive.

ignite the debate

Focuses on starting the debate with passion and energy.

spark the debate

Highlights the act of initiating the debate with a sudden or quick action.

FAQs

How can I use "foster the debate" in a sentence?

You can use "foster the debate" to indicate that you're encouraging or supporting a discussion, as in, "The organization aims to foster the debate about climate change policies".

What can I say instead of "foster the debate"?

You can use alternatives like "promote the debate", "encourage the debate", or "stimulate the debate" depending on the context.

Is "foster debate" more formal than "encourage debate"?

"Foster debate" and "encourage debate" are largely interchangeable, but "foster debate" might be perceived as slightly more formal, particularly in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "foster the debate" and "engage in the debate"?

"Foster the debate" means to encourage or support a discussion, while "engage in the debate" means to actively participate in the discussion. One creates the environment, the other participates in it.