on the prompting of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on the prompting of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or decision was influenced or initiated by someone else's suggestion or encouragement. Example: "She decided to pursue her passion for painting on the prompting of her friends who believed in her talent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Dick Taverne (Letters, 19 February) seems to want to give the impression that my father, Leo Abse, only involved himself in homosexual law reform on the prompting of Roy Jenkins.

The Guardian

In fact, most of the controversial public statements appear to have been made by just one of them, Bernardo De Bernardinis, who was at the time deputy head of Italy's Civil Protection Department, and who urged L'Aquila's citizens, on the prompting of a journalist who interviewed him before the meeting, to relax with a good glass of Montepulciano wine.

The Economist

While the crowd was rioting in the streets, Justinian considered fleeing the capital, but eventually decided to stay, apparently on the prompting of Theodora, who refused to leave.

Wikipedia

However, Richardson did not keep his authorship secret and, on the prompting of his friends like Samuel Johnson, dropped this framing device from the second edition.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Anglo-Saxon companies have often willingly taken on social obligations without the prompting of government.

The Economist

Mother and son both did exactly as they damn well pleased, embarrassing their families and imperilling the monarchy as they acted on the prompts of their own emotional and erotic inner worlds.

The Guardian - Books

Thus we expected that in identifying quality of care issues during M & M rounds, this role would have the most identified quality of care issues and would not be dependent on prompting of the CanMEDS roles.

BMC Medical Education

All that quieted down, though, once the football pro showed off his moves week after week on the show, prompting many of the same guys who called him "twinkle toes" to ask for dance lessons.

Vice

Prohibiting the reading of the letter on the Senate Floor, prompted the contents of the letter to go viral on social media with hashtags such as #CorettaScottKing and #LetLizSpeak trending on Twitter.

Huffington Post

But an experience in a drama course he was taking on the side prompted an abrupt change of plan.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

During the 97th lap, debris was spotted on the track, prompting the first caution of the race.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on the prompting of", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates who did the prompting and what action resulted from it to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The company invested in renewable energy on the prompting of environmental activists".

Common error

Avoid using "on the prompting of" when the action was a direct order or requirement. This phrase is better suited for situations where there was encouragement or suggestion, not a command. For instance, don't say "He completed the task on the prompting of his manager" if the manager explicitly instructed him to do it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the prompting of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating causation or influence. Ludwig examples show it attributing an action or decision to someone else's suggestion or encouragement. This phrase highlights the role of an external factor in initiating a particular behavior or choice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on the prompting of" is a grammatically sound and relatively rare prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action or decision was influenced by someone else's encouragement or suggestion. According to Ludwig, it serves to attribute cause and credit to the individual or entity that provided the prompting. While suitable for various contexts, its register leans toward neutral. Although examples are limited, the phrase appears across news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedic sources. When using this phrase, clarity regarding the source and result of the prompting is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the urging of

Implies a strong and persistent encouragement, suggesting more insistence than "on the prompting of".

on the advice of

Emphasizes that guidance or counsel was followed, implying trust in the advisor.

at the suggestion of

Indicates a recommendation or advice led to an action, slightly more formal than "on the prompting of".

because of the encouragement of

Directly points to the supportive role someone played in motivating an action.

due to the influence of

Highlights the power of someone's example or actions that led to a particular outcome.

as a result of someone's lead

Highlights someone's direction or example being followed.

at the instigation of

Suggests someone initiated an action, often with a negative connotation, implying possible mischief or trouble.

following someone's initiative

Indicates someone else took the first step, and others then acted based on it.

at someone's direction

Suggests a clear instruction or order was followed.

inspired by someone

Focuses on the motivational aspect, where someone's example sparked action or creativity.

FAQs

What does "on the prompting of" mean?

The phrase "on the prompting of" means that someone did something because they were encouraged or suggested to do so by someone else. It indicates influence or instigation.

How can I use "on the prompting of" in a sentence?

You can use "on the prompting of" to show that an action was influenced by someone. For example, "She started volunteering "at the shelter" on the prompting of her friend".

What are some alternatives to "on the prompting of"?

Alternatives to "on the prompting of" include "at the urging of", "at the suggestion of", or "due to the influence of". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "on the prompting of" formal or informal?

"On the prompting of" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "at the recommendation of" might be preferable in highly formal writing.