soft suggestion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "soft suggestion" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it when you want to suggest something in a polite manner or as a gentle request. For example, "I'm hoping you'd consider my soft suggestion of starting a monthly book club."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It's only a soft suggestion".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In 2010, the soft earmarks included suggestions to finance the Esperanza International, a micro-lending organization based in Washington State that was started by David Valle, a former major league baseball player, and the Real Property Foundation, a group in Chicago made up of American real estate agents that promotes private property rights around the world.

The New York Times

He took me up on my suggestion of soft pretzels.

The New York Times

Her face nearly impassive, Ms. Tachibana communicated young willingness through the suggestion of soft spiraling in her torso, in a handsome white-on-white set with a glowing moon.

The New York Times - Arts

Work is a minefield of soft angles and the suggestion of sex parts under expensive stylish fabrics cut to enhance and accentuate already alluring, attractive, intelligent young women.

Vice

Congressional leaders say soft earmarks are merely suggestions and not really earmarks.

The New York Times

To their credit, Ms. Denis and her cinematographer, Agnès Godard, scrupulously steer away from any suggestion of soft-core cliché.

The New York Times

We also provided suggestions for "soft measures" as part of this question: 68% of respondents indicated that they took "special care" when changing cross-language identifiers.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

Trampolines, grass, or any soft surface are great suggestions for beginners.

WikiHow

With England decamped to Perth in preparation for Friday's fourth and penultimate ODI match, Bopara took the opportunity not just to soft-pedal the suggestions from Cook that he might be on the verge of giving up the one-day captaincy, but also to offer a passionate and touching show of support for a man who has been his captain off and on since their days as Essex juniors.

The Guardian - Sport

Previous research suggests that "soft" quality management practices including small group problem solving, employee suggestion and task-related training have a positive impact on "hard" quality management practices including process management and quality information [3].

International Journal of Quality Innovation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "soft suggestion" when you want to introduce an idea or recommendation gently, without being forceful or imposing your will. This is especially useful in collaborative settings or when giving feedback.

Common error

Avoid using "soft suggestion" when a firm directive is required. In situations demanding immediate action or clear instructions, a direct approach is more effective than a subtle hint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "soft suggestion" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "soft" modifies the noun "suggestion". It describes the nature of the suggestion as being gentle or non-forceful, aligning with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "soft suggestion" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered expression used to convey a gentle or non-forceful recommendation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While the phrase may not be as common as other alternatives, it is valuable in collaborative settings where a direct approach may be undesirable. Using "soft suggestion" demonstrates consideration and encourages open discussion. When a firmer directive is needed, it's best to choose more direct language. Some alternatives are "gentle recommendation", "mild proposal" or "polite suggestion".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gentle recommendation

Replaces 'suggestion' with 'recommendation' and 'soft' with 'gentle', emphasizing the considerate nature of the advice.

mild proposal

Substitutes 'suggestion' with 'proposal' and 'soft' with 'mild', highlighting the lack of intensity in the offering.

subtle recommendation

Uses 'subtle' in place of 'soft' to emphasize the indirect and understated quality of the recommendation.

polite suggestion

Replaces 'soft' with 'polite' to focus on the respectful manner in which the suggestion is made.

tentative proposal

Emphasizes the hesitance or uncertainty behind the proposal, using 'tentative' instead of 'soft'.

guarded advice

Focuses on the cautious or careful nature of the advice, using 'guarded' to modify 'advice'.

discreet suggestion

Highlights the unobtrusive nature of the suggestion, replacing 'soft' with 'discreet'.

inoffensive recommendation

Stresses the harmless and non-confrontational quality of the recommendation.

delicate proposition

Uses 'delicate' to emphasize the sensitivity surrounding the proposition.

muted advice

Replaces 'soft' with 'muted' to suggest that the advice is understated or subtly expressed.

FAQs

How can I use "soft suggestion" in a sentence?

You can use "soft suggestion" to introduce a gentle recommendation, such as, "I have a "soft suggestion" that we try a different approach to this project."

What's a "soft suggestion" versus a hard one?

A "soft suggestion" is a gentle, non-forceful recommendation, while a hard suggestion is a more direct, possibly mandatory, directive. The former is about offering an idea, while the latter implies an expectation of compliance.

What can I say instead of "soft suggestion"?

You can use alternatives like "gentle recommendation", "mild proposal", or "polite suggestion" depending on the context.

Is "soft suggestion" appropriate for formal writing?

While "soft suggestion" is grammatically correct, it might be more suited for informal or collaborative contexts. In formal writing, consider stronger or more direct alternatives, unless you specifically want to convey gentleness and deference.