persuade into

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "persuade into" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "persuade to" when referring to convincing someone to do something. Example: "She tried to persuade him to join the club."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He says he was offered up to £150 for each recruit he could help persuade into uniform, which would be paid once they finished their phase one training.

The Guardian

If you're into dance music, you'll dig the DJs the fledgling company has managed to persuade into collaborating: Tiësto, Markus Schulz, Andy Moor, Matt Darey and Menno de Jong are some of the names it's launching with.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

No new doctors could be persuaded into this perilous terrain.

The New York Times - Health

So how does he think horses were persuaded into battle?

The Guardian - Film

It is highly unlikely to be persuaded into negotiating some sort of political settlement.

The Economist

But do not be persuaded into making extra payments to them before you go bankrupt.

The Guardian - Money

He was persuaded into a taxi but, halfway to the Astoria, he jumped out and ran away.

Independent

The pleasure of giving the prize to Pat Barker's The Ghost Road, my choice, not one I was persuaded into.

The Guardian - Books

I was further persuaded into this madness by a younger friend whose money and dignity were not at stake.

The Guardian - Opinion

There are real connections between Blair and Corbyn in terms of that the people need to be educated, persuaded into a better form of understanding".

Independent

Mr Stone says that often very conventionally "successful" people have been persuaded into careers that their families approve of, rather than making their own choice.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct phrasing: "persuade someone to do something". For example, "I persuaded her to join the team" is grammatically correct.

Common error

Don't use "persuade into". The correct form is "persuade to". For instance, instead of saying "I persuaded him into going", say "I persuaded him to go".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "persuade into" functions as a phrasal verb, but its use is considered grammatically incorrect. It attempts to convey the action of convincing someone to do something, but standard English prefers the structure "persuade to". Ludwig indicates this is not a correct construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Wiki

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Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Formal & Business

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "persuade into" is used, Ludwig flags it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers the construction "persuade to". Despite its presence in some sources, predominantly in news, encyclopedias and wiki, it is best to avoid "persuade into" in formal writing and conversation, opting instead for the correct "persuade to" or semantically similar alternatives like "induce to" or "convince to" to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

induce to

Focuses on prompting or causing someone to do something, often through enticement or influence, differing from a direct attempt at persuasion.

convince to

Suggests changing someone's belief or opinion, leading them to take a particular action, differing slightly from just influencing action.

influence to

Implies a more subtle effect on someone's actions or thoughts, without necessarily involving direct persuasion.

entice to

Highlights the use of attraction or temptation to lead someone towards a particular action.

cajole into

Suggests using flattery or gentle persuasion to get someone to do something they might otherwise resist.

coerce into

Indicates forcing someone to do something against their will, a much stronger and often negative form of influence.

manipulate into

Implies using cunning or deceitful tactics to influence someone's actions, often for personal gain.

pressure into

Suggests applying pressure or insistence to get someone to do something.

strong-arm into

Indicates using force or intimidation to compel someone to act.

beguile into

Implies charming or deceiving someone into doing something.

FAQs

How to properly use "persuade" in a sentence?

The correct structure is "persuade someone to do something". For instance, "She persuaded her friend to try the new restaurant."

What's the correct preposition to use with "persuade"?

The correct preposition to use with "persuade" is "to", not "into". So, you would say "persuade someone to", not "persuade someone into".

What can I say instead of "persuade into"?

Since "persuade into" is generally considered incorrect, use "persuade to" instead. You could also consider alternatives like "convince to" or "influence to" depending on the context.

Is "persuade into" ever correct?

While you might find examples of "persuade into", it's not considered standard English. The grammatically correct phrase is "persuade to".