influencing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "influencing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation where one person or thing is having an effect on another. For example: "The hip-hop artist's lyrics have been influencing young people's fashion choices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unable to bring about political reforms at home, Abdullah staked his reputation on influencing regional politics.

The Guardian

Contempt of court bars comment on ongoing trials and inquests to avoid the risk of influencing the jury in one direction.

The Guardian

"The French have decided that the best way of influencing the eurozone is through the closest possible relationship with the Germans," said the senior diplomat.

The Guardian - Business

Related: Malcolm Turnbull denies influencing SBS sacking of Scott McIntyre for Anzac tweets Whether you think McIntyre's comments about Anzac Day were factually and historically defensible, compare them with the comments about Indigenous Australians that landed Andrew Bolt in the dock.

The Guardian - Opinion

Clinton's remarks appeared to be aimed at influencing the decisions being made in Tehran.

The Guardian

This has important implications … influencing the way we are perceived … encouraging people to visit our shores … and increasing the willingness of people in other countries to do business with us.

The Guardian

BAE Systems: "Generally, we consider that the UK achieves much greater global influence by acting as part of a bloc and that the UK has been particularly successful in influencing the direction and content of EU trade policies".

The Guardian

In a democracy, the public should be able to see how policies are being made and altered, and who is influencing that process.

The Guardian

Hurd defended it as a necessary shot across the bows of the IRA, but not as a successful ploy for influencing public opinion – although it did temporarily assuage the indignation of the press.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ibrahim believes the government has currently lost all credibility by curbing and censoring the press, interfering with the judiciary and escaping accountability for its actions by influencing the "free and fair elections" process.

The Guardian - Opinion

Obeid is accused of influencing the Maritime Authority of NSW to deal favourably with Circular Quay Restaurants Pty Ltd, a company of which his family was the effective owner, over the company's restaurant tenancies at Sydney's Circular Quay.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "influencing" when you want to emphasize the ongoing process of having an effect on someone or something.

Common error

Avoid using "influencing" as a generic substitute for more precise verbs like 'affecting', 'shaping', or 'guiding'. Choose the verb that best reflects the specific nature of the impact you are describing.

Linguistic Context

Influencing functions primarily as a present participle, indicating an ongoing action of exerting influence. As Ludwig AI explains, the word is correct and usable in written English. Examples show its use in various contexts, describing the process of affecting decisions, opinions, or outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

20%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Lifestyle

3%

Music

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "influencing" functions as a present participle, denoting the act of exerting influence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. With a 'Very common' frequency, it appears predominantly in 'News & Media' contexts, but is also present in 'Formal & Business' and 'Opinion' contexts. It's crucial to note that while "influencing" describes the process of having an impact, using more precise alternatives like "affecting", "shaping", or "guiding" can provide greater clarity. Given its wide range of use cases and semantic versatility, the understanding of "influencing" is useful for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affecting

Implies a direct impact or change, often without specifying the method.

shaping

Suggests a more deliberate and formative impact, molding something into a specific form.

impacting

Highlights the forceful or significant effect on something.

affecting the course of

Specifically relates to altering the direction or development of events.

exerting influence on

Emphasizes the active application of power or persuasion.

swaying

Indicates the ability to persuade someone to a particular viewpoint or action.

guiding

Suggests leading or directing towards a certain path or decision.

determining

Highlights the power to decisively control the outcome or nature of something.

manipulating

Implies controlling or influencing in a skillful or deceptive way.

persuading

Focuses on convincing someone through reasoning or argument.

FAQs

How can I use "influencing" in a sentence?

"Influencing" is often used to describe the action of having an effect on someone or something. For example, 'His leadership style is "influencing" the team's performance.'

What are some alternatives to the word "influencing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "affecting", "shaping", or "impacting" instead of "influencing".

Is it correct to say "influencing on" instead of "influencing"?

No, the correct usage is simply "influencing" without the preposition "on". For example, 'He is "influencing" the decision-making process' is correct.

What's the difference between "influencing" and "manipulating"?

"Influencing" generally implies a more subtle or positive effect, while "manipulating" suggests a more forceful or even deceptive approach to control a situation or person.