incur a response

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incur a response" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where one expects to provoke or elicit a reaction or reply from someone. Example: "The controversial article was designed to incur a response from the readers, sparking a heated debate in the comments section."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister and former president, said "aggressive" action by Georgia would incur a "response".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The idea is to inflict damage on Pakistan's forces at a mere 72 hours' notice, seizing territory quickly enough not to incur a nuclear response.

The Economist

And we did incur a certain responsibility there.

The New York Times

Because a conventional seismic isolation system is usually a long-period dynamic system, it may easily incur an excessive seismic response when subjected to near-fault earthquakes, which usually contain strong long-period wave components.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Surgery itself also incurs an inflammatory response which may be responsible for the development of arrhythmias.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

However, metallic electrodes tend to be mechanically hard (50 500 GPa) compared to soft nervous tissue (0.1 1 kPa), which causes neural damage and incurs an inflammatory response after insertion [35].

Nano Convergence

Seafood has also been known to incur an allergic reaction.

WikiHow

It is unclear whether it is better for a vaccine to elicit multiple strain-specific T cell responses as opposed to fewer broadly cross-reactive responses to selected epitopes in which mutations incur a fitness cost to the virus.

Plosone

Neither message will incur a charge.

The New York Times - Tech

THOU shalt not incur a structural deficit.

The Economist

They surely have incurred — or will incur — a political cost.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "elicit a response" or "provoke a reaction" for clarity and impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "incur a response" can sound stilted in formal contexts. Opt for stronger verbs like "elicit" or "prompt" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incur a response" functions as a verb phrase where "incur" acts as the main verb indicating that something brings about or results in a "response". As per Ludwig, the phrase is not commonly used and might sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incur a response" means to bring about or provoke a reaction, as revealed by the limited examples found. Though grammatically acceptable, it's not a commonly used phrase, and according to Ludwig AI, may sound awkward. More common alternatives like "elicit a response" or "provoke a reaction" might be preferable for clarity and impact. The phrase appears in news, science, and wiki contexts, but writers should aim for stronger verbs to maintain a professional tone, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit a reaction

Focuses on drawing out a reaction, similar to "incur a response" but more common.

provoke a reaction

Emphasizes causing a reaction, often with a negative connotation.

invite a response

Suggests creating an opportunity or encouragement for a response.

generate a reaction

Highlights the creation or production of a reaction.

trigger a reaction

Indicates initiating a sudden or forceful reaction.

draw a response

Implies attracting or pulling a response from someone.

prompt a response

Suggests encouraging or urging a response.

instigate a reaction

Focuses on initiating or stirring up a reaction, often negative.

bring about a response

Highlights causing or producing a response through specific actions.

give rise to a reaction

Indicates being the origin or cause of a reaction.

FAQs

What does "incur a response" mean?

The phrase "incur a response" means to provoke, trigger, or elicit a reaction or reply as a consequence of an action or situation. It implies that the response is a result of something that has been done or said.

How can I use "incur a response" in a sentence?

You can use "incur a response" when you want to indicate that an action or statement is likely to cause a reaction from someone. For example, "The controversial article was designed to "elicit a response" from the readers."

What are some alternatives to "incur a response"?

Alternatives to "incur a response" include "elicit a reaction", "provoke a reaction", or "invite a response", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "incur a response" formal or informal?

The phrase "incur a response" leans towards the formal side, though it's not widely used. In many cases, a more common alternative like "provoke a reaction" may be clearer and more impactful.