on impulse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'on impulse' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe an action that is taken suddenly without thinking, usually because of an emotion or feeling. Example sentence: She decided to join the gym on impulse after seeing a friend's transformation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Shop around, share and don't waste money on impulse buys.

The Guardian

Don't waste money on impulse purchases.

WikiHow

I act on impulse.

The New York Times - Magazine

They also act on impulse.

The New Yorker

I often do things on impulse.

The New York Times - Health

Along the way we stopped on impulse.

The New York Times - Travel

Men just can't help acting on impulse.

The Guardian

They couldn't have been realized on impulse.

The New Yorker

By then, Ferguson was already acting on impulse.

The New York Times - Sports

"You can't treat this as a purchase on impulse".

The New York Times

Low on impulse control, he doesn't try to seduce Mia.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on impulse" to clearly convey that an action was taken without prior planning or consideration. This adds a sense of spontaneity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "by impulse" instead of "on impulse". While both relate to impulsivity, "on impulse" is the correct and widely accepted idiomatic expression. "By impulse" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on impulse" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action is performed. As noted by Ludwig AI, it conveys that the action is done spontaneously and without prior thought.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on impulse" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase to describe actions taken spontaneously and without prior planning. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While suitable for neutral registers like news and general writing, it may be less common in strictly formal or business settings. Remember to use "on impulse", and not "by impulse", to accurately convey the intended meaning of spontaneity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

impulsively

Directly relates to the nature of acting on a sudden urge or impulse.

on the spur of the moment

Emphasizes the sudden and immediate nature of the decision or action.

spontaneously

Focuses on the action being performed without premeditation, highlighting its unplanned nature.

without thinking

Emphasizes the lack of consideration before acting, highlighting the absence of forethought.

without planning

Highlights the absence of any prior arrangement or preparation.

unpremeditatedly

Highlights the absence of prior thought or intention in the action.

on a whim

Suggests a sudden and capricious desire or idea motivating the action.

instinctively

Implies that the action was driven by innate feelings or intuition rather than reason.

in the heat of the moment

Indicates that the action was influenced by strong emotions or immediate circumstances.

on a sudden

Emphasizes the abruptness and unexpectedness of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "on impulse" in a sentence?

You can use "on impulse" to describe actions done without thinking. For example, "She bought the dress "on impulse" when she saw it in the store window".

What's a similar phrase to "on impulse"?

A similar phrase is "spontaneously", which also means doing something without planning or thinking beforehand.

Is it better to act "on impulse" or to plan ahead?

Whether it's better to act "on impulse" or plan ahead depends on the situation. Acting "on impulse" can lead to exciting opportunities, but planning ahead can help avoid mistakes.

What does it mean to buy something "on impulse"?

To buy something "on impulse" means purchasing it without any prior planning or consideration, often because you were attracted to it at the moment.