incentivise

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'incentivise' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that encourages somebody to do something, like an incentive. For example: "The company incentivised employees with a generous bonus scheme."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To incentivise house builders to actually build houses (god forbid), section 106 payments and community infrastructure levy will be waived.

The Guardian - Arts

Donors and agencies need to export their corporate social responsibility contract models more widely, while governments in hot spots could offer tax breaks to incentivise other companies to use local ethical suppliers.

The Guardian

The retailler is also involved with schemes that incentivise poultry farmers for keeeping their flocks free of campylobacter.

The Guardian - Business

We incentivise every city hall to use Colab as a tool for the management of daily issues faced by urban dwellers.

The Guardian

The chief executive of the AI Group, Innes Willox, told ABC radio last week that employers might find "other ways … to retain and incentivise their workforce" and if this happened the scheme may not deliver the $968m over four years in estimated savings.

The Guardian

But if the justices vote to permit searches of Motorola Razrs while respecting the privacy of the iPhone owner and his treasure trove of data, they may perversely incentivise the last flip-phone holdout criminals to spring for smartphones.

The Economist

Hence, the need to "incentivise" managers by giving them the chance to make a fortune.A fortune is certainly for the having.

The Economist

This prompts the thought that institutional investors that incentivise short-term performance when their liabilities are long-term may be in breach of their fiduciary duty as managers of other people's money.

The Economist

Variable pay scales incentivise the development of better and needed skills.

The Economist

My results suggest that the reduction in teacher absenteeism likely explains only a small part of the achievement effects, suggesting that the policy may have impacted teacher behaviour in many ways.DiA: Many education reformers support policies that incentivise good teaching by way of bonuses or performance pay.

The Economist

The package was backed by the bank's institutional shareholders to "incentivise" Mr Hester.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure your incentive aligns with ethical considerations and doesn't inadvertently promote undesirable behavior.

Common error

Avoid setting unrealistic expectations when you "incentivise". If the reward is unattainable or perceived as unfair, it can backfire and demotivate people.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "incentivise" is as a transitive verb. It describes the action of providing an incentive to someone or something to encourage a specific behavior or outcome. As Ludwig AI states, it means to provide with an incentive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incentivise" is a grammatically correct and frequently used transitive verb that describes the act of providing an incentive to encourage a specific behavior or action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's purpose is to persuade and encourage actions. It is commonly found in neutral contexts such as news and media, but it is also frequent in formal and business settings. When using "incentivise", it is important to define the incentive clearly and ensure that it is ethically sound and realistic to achieve the desired outcome. Some alternatives include "motivate", "encourage", and "provide incentives".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide incentives

Replaces the single verb with a verb-noun combination, softening the directness.

motivate

Offers a broader term for encouraging action, lacking the specific focus on external rewards.

encourage

A less forceful alternative that suggests a lighter touch in influencing behavior.

stimulate

Focuses on activating or arousing interest and action.

prompt

Suggests a more direct instigation or urging toward a specific action.

give impetus to

Implies adding momentum or acceleration to an existing process or activity.

offer inducements

Uses a more formal and perhaps enticing tone by presenting alluring offers.

create motivation

Shifts focus to the creation of the internal drive rather than external rewards.

influence behavior

A general term that covers a range of methods beyond direct incentives.

persuade

Focuses on convincing someone through reasoning or argument, not necessarily with rewards.

FAQs

How can I use "incentivise" in a sentence?

You can use "incentivise" to describe the act of providing an incentive. For example, "The company decided to incentivise sales staff with bonuses."

What are some alternatives to saying "incentivise"?

Alternatives include "motivate", "encourage", or "provide incentives", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always effective to "incentivise" behavior?

While incentives can be effective, they're not always a guaranteed solution. Factors like the appropriateness of the incentive, the target audience, and the overall context play crucial roles in determining success.

What should I consider when designing an "incentivise" program?

Consider factors like the desired outcome, the target audience's motivations, the cost-effectiveness of the incentive, and the potential unintended consequences of the program.