he encouraged that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he encouraged that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where someone is promoting or supporting a specific action or idea, but it requires a more complete structure to be grammatically correct. Example: "He encouraged that we should all participate in the community service project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"He encouraged that in other people, too.

The New York Times

Working with Brian Burton, he encouraged that.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

People generally just take it and he encourages that.

TechCrunch

He also encourages that plan to be flexible and to embrace the unknown: "There is always uncertainty.

Huffington Post

He said he was encouraged that he already had greater range of motion than he did before the procedure.

The New York Times - Sports

And though he never felt completely comfortable in the Yankees' 3-2 loss, especially coming out of his windup, he said he was encouraged that he was able to work through trouble.

The New York Times - Sports

He ultimately decided to repaint because, he said, "I cannot encourage that kind of offensive language and tension represented by that drawing".

The New York Times

He said he was encouraged that South Korea's control measures were having an impact.

The Guardian

Hughes gave up two runs, including a homer to Jordan Schafer, but said he was encouraged that he got 6 of his 12 outs on changeups.

The New York Times - Sports

In fact, he said he was encouraged that "there's continuing concern" — including articles cautioning that the market would stumble.

The New York Times

He said he was encouraged that community groups were so involved in the federal inquiry, but was concerned about the level of involvement going forward.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To ensure grammatical accuracy, replace "he encouraged that" with phrases like "he encouraged the idea that" or "he encouraged this/it" for clearer meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "he encouraged that" without a clear object or clause following it. This construction often leaves the sentence incomplete and grammatically incorrect. Instead use something like: "He encouraged her to apply" or "He encouraged that we invest in that company."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he encouraged that" functions as a statement of support or promotion, though it requires further completion to be grammatically sound. As flagged by Ludwig AI, the phrase on its own is not standard English. Examples show varied attempts to complete the thought, but the core function remains conveying endorsement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he encouraged that" is typically used to express endorsement, yet it is not grammatically complete on its own. Ludwig AI flags it as needing additional structure to be considered correct. Though examples exist in news media, it's important to refine the construction to ensure clarity, such as "he encouraged this" or "he encouraged the belief that". Related phrases, like "he advocated that", offer stronger, clearer alternatives. To avoid errors, always ensure a complete object or clause follows "he encouraged", solidifying its intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he advocated that

Replaces "encouraged" with a stronger term implying active support or promotion.

he supported the idea that

Clarifies that the encouragement is directed towards a specific idea.

he endorsed that view

Indicates formal approval or agreement with a particular perspective.

he promoted that concept

Suggests active promotion or championing of a concept.

he fostered the belief that

Implies nurturing or cultivating a particular belief or idea.

he championed that cause

Highlights strong support and advocacy for a particular cause.

he backed that proposal

Indicates support for a specific proposal or plan.

he approved of that measure

Shows formal acceptance or approval of a particular action or measure.

he emboldened them to believe that

Focuses on giving someone the courage or confidence to believe something.

he reinforced the notion that

Highlights strengthening an existing idea or notion.

FAQs

How can I properly use the idea of someone encouraging something?

Instead of "he encouraged that", use "he encouraged "he encouraged this"" or specify what was encouraged: "he encouraged innovation".

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "he encouraged that"?

Consider using constructions like "he encouraged the belief that", or "he encouraged others to think that", for improved clarity.

Is "he encouraged that" grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "he encouraged that" is not grammatically correct for formal writing. Use more precise alternatives like "he advocated for that" or "he supported the idea that".

How can I express encouragement of an action using different words?

Instead of "he encouraged that", try "he motivated that", "he inspired that", or "he urged that", followed by a proper clause or object for grammatical correctness.