Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
provoking over
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "provoking over" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear what context or meaning you intend to express with this phrase, making it difficult to determine when it could be used. Example: "His actions were provoking over the issue of climate change." (This example is awkward and unclear.)
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Alternative expressions(4)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
The first is that the scandal may well change the shape of News Corp in ways that are less than ideal; the other is that it could knock the stuffing out of Britain's fierce, messy and vital press by provoking over-regulation.
News & Media
Kilcullen suggested that al-Shabaab wanted to provoke over-reaction by the Kenyan security forces and thereby gain more support, especially in Eastleigh, the eastern district of Nairobi where most of the 250,000 Somalis in the Kenyan capital live.
News & Media
They were encouraged to eat at regular intervals to avoid strong 'hunger' sensations that could provoke over-eating; to plan intake; to have healthy snacks visible at home and work (e.g., eat a fruit first); to take the time to savour meals and snacks with minimal distractions to help recognition of satiety signals; and to try to eat as a family.
Science
While solicitation is illegal, men who visit prostitutes are not usually punished, whereas prostitutes rounded up in periodic sweeps by police can be sent to education-through-labour camps for up to two years.Last week, a video of a policeman interviewing naked girls in a raid on a Beijing health club suspected of operating as a brothel provoked over 73,000 comments on a Chinese website.
News & Media
In each iteration, it runs the generating method, obtaining the best fuzzy rule according to the current state of the training set, considers the relative covering value this rule provokes over it, and removes from it the examples with a covering value greater than (varepsilon).
Maya provokes, over and over, and if some of the provocations don't entirely work, that hardly invalidates the ones that do.
News & Media
Besides this recurring pattern of pulling over, provoking, and then arresting black people on bullshit charges, there are also terrifying anecdotes about the misuse of police dogs and Tasers that disproportionately affect African Americans.
News & Media
"The execution videos [of Western hostages] were bait to provoke an over-reaction.
News & Media
Designed to disrupt basic services and provoke an over-the-top response, the peaceful campaign has its roots in the Otpor school of thought.
News & Media
Neither of these constructs provoked an over-proliferation phenotype (Fig. 5B,C,E).
Science
Reduced CLR-1 receptor activity provokes an over-activation of EGL-15 (FGFR) signalling leading to a Clr (clear) phenotype, characterized by fluid accumulation within the pseudo-coelom [ 37].
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "provoking over". Instead, opt for more grammatically sound and widely accepted alternatives such as "provoking a debate over", "stirring up controversy over", or "inciting arguments about" depending on the intended meaning.
Common error
A common mistake is to incorrectly pair the verb "provoke" with the preposition "over". It is generally more accurate to use "provoke" with a direct object, such as "provoke a response" or "provoke a reaction", and then use "over" or "about" to specify the subject of the response or reaction. For example, "provoke a discussion about" is clearer and more grammatically correct.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "provoking over" functions as a verb attempting to describe an action of causing something, but it's grammatically weak. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase lacks a clear meaning in written English. Correct alternatives would specify a direct object, enhancing the clarity of the intended communication.
Frequent in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Science
0%
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "provoking over" is grammatically questionable and lacks clear usage. Ludwig AI confirms its incorrectness. It's advisable to use alternative expressions such as "provoking a debate over", "stirring up controversy over", or "inciting arguments about" to convey the intended meaning more effectively. These alternatives offer better clarity and are grammatically sound. Avoiding "provoking over" will enhance the precision and professionalism of your writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
provoking a debate over
This alternative uses the more common construction "provoking a debate" followed by "over" to specify the topic of the debate.
stirring up controversy over
This alternative uses "stirring up" as a substitute for "provoking", which provides a more vivid and common way to describe instigating controversy.
inciting arguments about
This alternative uses "inciting" as a substitute for "provoking", which provides a more emphatic and common way to describe instigating arguments and replaces "over" with "about".
sparking outrage regarding
This alternative uses "sparking" and replaces "over" with "regarding" to indicate the focus of the outrage.
prompting concerns about
This alternative replaces "provoking" with "prompting" to soften the tone and uses "about" to specify the focus of the concerns.
generating discussion on
This alternative uses "generating" instead of "provoking" and "on" instead of "over" to denote the topic of the discussion.
causing tension regarding
This alternative focuses on the result of the action (causing tension) and uses "regarding" to specify the subject of the tension.
creating conflict about
This alternative uses "creating" to replace "provoking" and specifies "conflict" as the outcome, using "about" to indicate the subject.
instigating disputes concerning
This alternative uses the more formal "instigating" to replace "provoking" and "concerning" in place of "over".
triggering debate on
This alternative replaces "provoking" with "triggering" and uses "on" instead of "over" to indicate the topic of debate.
FAQs
What are some alternatives to "provoking over"?
Instead of "provoking over", consider using phrases like "provoking a debate over", "stirring up controversy over", or "inciting arguments about" for clearer communication.
Is "provoking over" grammatically correct?
No, "provoking over" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more common and accepted phrases that convey the intended meaning more effectively, such as "provoking a reaction over" or "provoking concerns about".
How can I use "provoke" correctly in a sentence?
Use "provoke" with a direct object followed by a prepositional phrase to specify the subject. For example, "The article provoked a discussion over the new policy", is better than "The article was provoking over the new policy".
What's the difference between "provoking a debate over" and "provoking a debate about"?
Both "provoking a debate over" and "provoking a debate about" are acceptable, but "over" typically implies a more contentious or disputed topic, while "about" is more general. Using "provoking a debate over" suggests there is disagreement, while "provoking a debate about" simply indicates the topic being discussed.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested