instruct against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instruct against" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone not to do something or to discourage a particular action. Example: "The teacher will instruct against using phones during the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Naumoff says that education programs in the camps instruct against such marriages, especially those involving children.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nevertheless, Sikhs who have undergone the Amrit ceremony are instructed against using tobacco, alcohol or any other form of intoxicants.

The New York Times

Our cuture, media and politics have, for thousands of years, positively bubbled with men telling women what to do with their reproductive organs, whether it is instructing against using them too often or too rarely, using them too young, leaving them until they are too old, or medically intervening in their natural and/or God-given functions.

The Guardian - Opinion

As all four teachers in the study taught at the same childcare center, it is likely that they shared resources and information about the language stimulation techniques, even though they were instructed against the transfer of strategies and the control group promised training following the study.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

It instructed against using expressions including "jihadists," "fundamentalists," and even "Islamic State," as well as the acronyms "ISIS" and "ISIL," which are widely used to refer to IS.

Vice

He walks around the perimeter distributing leaflets with highlighted passages from the Quran that instruct violence against non-Muslims.

Vice

Her father instructed her against looking first for herself in photographs, while her mother set the demanding standards, telling her that she was not raised to accept "fine".

The Guardian - Tech

It is undeniable that RSD proposes, justifies and instructs violence against women – and there are Australian men who are still paying thousands of dollars to import Allen from the US to receive this instruction.

The Guardian - Opinion

They need only to instruct voters to vote against the recall, which is effectively a vote for Mr. Davis.

The New York Times

"In more recent times, his condition has improved so that he is now able to comprehend the case against him, instruct his lawyers and so advance his defence in court," Langdon added.

The Guardian

The Karuna group, a rebel faction that split from the Tamil Tigers in 2004 and which a senior United Nations official last month accused of colluding with security forces to recruit children, has agreed to instruct its field commanders against recruiting minors and allow international monitors to inspect its camps.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instruct against", ensure the context clearly indicates who is giving the instruction and what action is being discouraged. Clarity in communication is key.

Common error

Avoid using "instruct against" when a mere suggestion or recommendation is intended. This phrase implies a level of authority or directive that might be too strong for certain situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instruct against" functions as a directive verb phrase, indicating that someone is giving a command or order to avoid a specific action or behavior. The examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts where guidance or rules are being communicated.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "instruct against" is a directive verb phrase used to indicate that someone is ordering or advising against a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, though it's more common in neutral to formal contexts like news, science, and academia. Alternatives include "advise against" and "caution against". When using "instruct against", ensure clarity in who is giving the instruction and what action is being discouraged to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advise against

Emphasizes giving advice to not do something.

caution against

Highlights warning about potential risks or negative consequences.

warn against

Focuses on explicitly alerting someone to danger or undesirable outcomes.

dissuade from

Implies actively persuading someone not to pursue a course of action.

discourage from

Suggests creating a lack of enthusiasm or motivation for an action.

advise not to

A more direct way of giving negative advice.

recommend against

Implies a formal suggestion not to do something.

counsel against

Indicates providing professional guidance or advice to avoid something.

direct to avoid

Focuses on giving a specific instruction to steer clear of something.

guide to prevent

Highlights providing guidance to stop something from happening.

FAQs

How can I use "instruct against" in a sentence?

You can use "instruct against" to indicate that someone is being told not to do something, often due to rules, policies, or potential negative consequences. For example: "The teacher will instruct the students "not to cheat" during the exam".

What is a good alternative to "instruct against"?

Alternatives include "advise against", "caution against", or "warn against", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "advise against" and "instruct against"?

"Instruct against" implies a more authoritative or directive tone, while "advise against" suggests offering guidance or recommendations. The choice depends on the power dynamic and the nature of the situation.

When is it appropriate to use "instruct against" in writing?

Use "instruct against" when you want to emphasize that someone in a position of authority is directing others to avoid a particular action. It is often used in formal or official contexts.