persuasive to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "persuasive to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that the subject of the sentence is attempting to persuade someone to take a certain action. For example: "The lawyer presented a persuasive argument to the jury that the defendant was innocent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"This advice seems persuasive to me.

The New York Times

That argument sounds persuasive to me.

The New Yorker

"That claim is obviously not persuasive to us," he said.

The New York Times

The arguments against voting have been persuasive to many Americans.

The New York Times

The Washington Examiner's Michael Barone said neither part of FiveThirtyEight's explanation "seems persuasive to me".

The New York Times

But all this evidence isn't particularly persuasive to the one group that should know: women.

The New York Times - Magazine

A former adviser to Mr. Geithner dismissed that notion as ridiculous, and that's persuasive to me.

The New York Times

The force that she wields there, however, is persuasive to the point of Napoleonic.

The New Yorker

Ultimately, it doesn't seem persuasive to argue that important technologies can't be financed without bubbles.

The New Yorker

Eyewitness testimony is dangerously persuasive to juries, yet it remains admissible in courts almost without caveat.

The New Yorker

These ideas would be most persuasive to the masses of Muslims if conveyed by other Muslims".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "persuasive to" when you want to emphasize the impact of an argument or evidence on a specific audience or individual. For example, "The data was particularly "persuasive to" the marketing team".

Common error

While "persuasive to" is generally acceptable, consider stronger synonyms like "compelling" or "convincing" in formal writing to enhance clarity and impact. For instance, instead of saying "The evidence was "persuasive to" the judge", opt for "The evidence convinced the judge".

Linguistic Context

Persuasive to functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate the quality of being able to convince someone or something. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it indicates that something effectively persuades someone to take an action or adopt a viewpoint. For example, in the sentence "The argument was "persuasive to" the judge", the phrase modifies 'argument' and describes its effect on 'the judge'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "persuasive to" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that highlights the effectiveness of something in convincing a specific audience. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that something effectively persuades someone. As the examples from reputable sources demonstrate, the phrase is commonly used in news and media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. When using "persuasive to", be mindful of the audience and context, and consider stronger synonyms such as "compelling" or "convincing" for formal settings. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, writers can use "persuasive to" to clearly and effectively convey the impact of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convincing to

Emphasizes the act of making someone believe something.

compelling to

Highlights the irresistible nature of an argument or idea.

influential with

Focuses on the capacity to affect someone's actions or decisions.

effective for

Indicates the success of something in achieving a desired outcome.

appealing to

Stresses the attractiveness or desirability of an option.

credible for

Implies the reliability and trustworthiness of information.

plausible for

Highlights the believability and reasonableness of a statement.

authoritative for

Implies knowledge or expertise that someone respects.

cogent for

Shows an argument is clear, logical, and convincing.

valid for

States that something is sound and well-founded.

FAQs

How can I use "persuasive to" in a sentence?

You can use "persuasive to" to show that something is effective in convincing someone. For example, "His argument was "persuasive to" the jury".

What can I say instead of "persuasive to"?

You can use alternatives like "convincing to", "compelling to", or "influential with" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "persuasive for" or "persuasive to"?

"Persuasive to" is typically used to indicate who is being convinced. "Persuasive for" is less common but could be used to indicate what purpose something is persuasive for. "His presentation was "persuasive to" the investors" is the correct usage in this example. It would be less conventional to say "His presentation was persuasive for getting investment funds".

What's the difference between "persuasive" and "persuasive to"?

"Persuasive" describes something that has the ability to convince, while "persuasive to" describes the effect on a specific audience. For example, "His argument was persuasive" versus "His argument was "persuasive to" the jury".