he prompted us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he prompted us" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone encouraged or urged a group to take action or respond. Example: "During the meeting, he prompted us to share our ideas on the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They offered many examples: 'He gave us ways of increasing membership, he prompted us to develop an action plan, and he coached us through its implementation' (MHO respondent).

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He prompts us to ask if we, too, in 2011, are not feeding on fears that bear little relation to what is by the standards of all previous ages a comfortable and peaceful era (what century would you swap with, exactly?) As photographs of 9/11 swim in our imaginations, and financial woes make it seem that western society is about to hit the buffers, maybe we should gaze on his nightmares to relax.

The Guardian - Arts

This prompted us to use IV MPS in case 1.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

In November 2003, he wrote a report that prompted US soldiers to interrogate Alazawi's brother, Ali, and her older sister, Nahla, now 45.

The Guardian

"The economy is fragile, and erratic booking patterns have prompted us to be cautious," he said.

The New York Times

"Forward!" he boomed, prompting us into action.

Independent

The guarantee deadline "kind of prompted us" to give Lin more playing time, he said.

The New York Times

He said, "In the mental geography of e-commerce, distance has been eliminated". This insight prompted us to explore how we could eliminate the distance between us and our customers.

Harvard Business Review

He reported fewer gastrointestinal symptoms after the consumption of vinegar for a long period, which prompted us to initiate this study.

BMC Gastroenterology

"I vaguely recall that these external events prompted us to say, 'I wonder what the FBI did, whoops, haven't heard from them,' " he said.

The Washington Post

We are exceeding and beating that, and it prompted us to explore how do we accelerate investment to continue driving the company's growth," he said.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Make sure that the subsequent action or decision resulting from the prompting is clearly linked and explained for maximum impact.

Common error

Avoid using "he prompted us" when the person's influence was more directive or controlling. "He instructed us" or "he commanded us" might be more appropriate if the action was not voluntary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he prompted us" functions as a transitive construction, indicating that 'he' caused or encouraged 'us' to take a specific action or consider something. Ludwig AI confirms it is usable in written English. Examples show its application in diverse scenarios, from developing action plans to initiating research.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he prompted us" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase indicating that someone encouraged or instigated a group to take action or consider a specific idea. According to Ludwig, this phrase is useful in describing a catalyst for change across diverse fields like science, news, and business. While it maintains a neutral register, it's important to ensure the level of influence aligns with the context; alternatives like "he instructed us" might be more fitting for directive commands. Remember, clearly link the prompting to its resulting action for maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he encouraged us

Focuses on the supportive aspect of prompting, highlighting the encouragement given.

he urged us

Emphasizes the insistent or persuasive nature of the prompting.

he motivated us

Highlights the inspirational aspect, where the prompting led to increased motivation.

he inspired us

Suggests the prompting had an uplifting and creative effect.

he stimulated us

Focuses on the intellectual aspect, suggesting the prompting caused active thinking.

he influenced us

Highlights the impact of the prompting on the group's actions or decisions.

he led us to believe

Suggests the prompting shaped the group's understanding or perception.

he incited us

Implies a stronger reaction, where the prompting led to a more intense response.

he guided us

Focuses on direction and instruction rather than direct prompting.

he advised us

Suggests the prompting came in the form of counsel or recommendations.

FAQs

How can I use "he prompted us" in a sentence?

Use "he prompted us" to indicate that someone encouraged or instigated a specific action. For example: "During the meeting, he prompted us to brainstorm new ideas."

What are some alternatives to "he prompted us"?

You can use alternatives like "he encouraged us", "he urged us", or "he inspired us" depending on the context.

Is "he prompted us" formal or informal?

"He prompted us" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and situation. It is generally considered neutral.

What's the difference between "he prompted us" and "he instructed us"?

"He prompted us" suggests encouragement or instigation, while "he instructed us" implies a more direct order or command. The former allows for more autonomy, while the latter is more directive.