highly discourage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly discourage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising against a particular action or behavior strongly. Example: "We highly discourage the use of personal devices during the meeting to maintain focus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Webb ducked: If Obama or Clinton asked, "I would highly discourage them," and "I'm not that interested".

Huffington Post

Eventually, I dieted and food was hidden from me, something I highly discourage as a parent and as an eating disorder survivor.

Huffington Post

Spider protection groups highly discourage the killing of black widow spiders.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Because of the physical and environmental hazards, recreation on the river is highly discouraged.

The New York Times

For Deutsche Telekom, the prospect of trying to acquire only Qwest and being sued by U S West appears highly discouraging.

The New York Times

After citing bingo in churches, Brand said, "We prefer not to try to regulate that kind of activity, but it's highly discouraged".

The New York Times

The use of tissues is highly discouraged, as they have been shown to collect in open trash receptacles and become breeding grounds for contamination.

The New Yorker

Visits on Saturdays and Sundays before 2 P.M. are highly discouraged, and can result in lengthy delays at the border (see "Getting There and Away").

The New Yorker

They spoke the truth, but such spontaneous displays of appreciation — for Elwes or for the movie — were highly discouraged by the organizers: "You are not funnier or smarter than this movie — do not try," they said.

The New Yorker

It is probably also safe to assume that getting pregnant while on operational duty is highly discouraged in their training.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

While, mathematically, the success probability of any readout protocol could be arbitrarily increased by sending signals with diverging energy, there are many situations where this is highly discouraged.

EPJ Quantum Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly discourage" when you want to strongly advise against a particular action or behavior, emphasizing the negative consequences or undesirability of the outcome. It's stronger than simply "discourage" but not as forceful as "prohibit."

Common error

While "highly discourage" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "prohibit", "preclude", or "contraindicate" for greater impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly discourage" functions as a verb phrase that expresses a strong recommendation against a particular action or behavior. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The adverb "highly" intensifies the verb "discourage", amplifying the advice against something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly discourage" is a verb phrase used to express a strong recommendation against a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and suitable for various writing contexts. While not overly formal, it's more than a simple suggestion, indicating potential negative consequences if the advice is ignored. Common alternatives include "strongly advise against" or "firmly discourage". Though used in News & Media, Wiki, and Science, overuse in formal writing should be avoided, with alternatives like "prohibit" being more precise. The phrase frequency is rare, so be mindful of overuse to maintain writing impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discourage strongly

Reorders the original phrase while maintaining its meaning and emphasis.

strongly advise against

Indicates a firm recommendation not to pursue a particular action.

strongly urge against

Suggests a pressing recommendation not to do something.

firmly discourage

Emphasizes a more assertive form of discouragement.

highly recommend against

Suggests that the recommendation against something is significant and important.

strongly disapprove of

Conveys a sense of disapproval with considerable force.

advise against

Offers a suggestion not to do something.

warn against

Provides a cautionary message regarding potential negative consequences.

express strong opposition to

Shows clear disagreement and aversion towards something.

dissuade vehemently

Implies an attempt to convince someone not to do something with great passion.

FAQs

What does "highly discourage" mean?

It means to strongly advise against something, indicating it's not recommended and could lead to undesirable outcomes.

When should I use "highly discourage" in my writing?

Use it when you want to express a strong recommendation against a particular action or behavior, but without imposing a complete ban. It's suitable for situations where compliance is expected but not legally enforced.

What are some alternatives to "highly discourage"?

You can use alternatives like "strongly advise against", "firmly discourage", or "strongly disapprove of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "highly discourage"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. However, consider the formality of your writing and whether a stronger or more precise term would be more appropriate.