spur conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

"spur conversation" is correct and an example sentence would be: The gathering was designed to spur conversation about the issues facing our community.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

She said she hoped the movie would spur conversation among audiences.

The New York Times

They are, in the first place, explicitly intellectual; the whole point of college is to spur conversation.

The New Yorker

Those in attendance said innovation is key to overcoming challenges, and the conference brought together decision-makers to help spur conversation and growth.

Cornell University

Cities can use changes in federal and state regulations as opportunities to assess existing city regulations, spur conversation and education around climate change adaptation, and create city-specific updates to local codes.

Harvard University

To connect agricultural researchers with Cornell experts in engineering and information science, a series of winter meetings launched by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences CALSS) aimed to spur conversation with researchers from CALS, the College of Engineering (CoE) and Computing and Information Science CISS).

Cornell University

Facebook Polls will provide an easy way to spur conversation, gather opinions or organize plans.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Cottonelle's efforts to both spur conversations about wipes and to equip consumers to display them more prominently in bathrooms may help remove such stigmas.

The New York Times

But then, during her leave of absence, she poured herself into The Race Card Project, something she had started while on a book tour in 2010 to spur conversations about race.

The New York Times

In many departments, despite efforts to spur conversations about ethics, those discussions still don't happen as often as they should.

Johns Hopkins University

Rather, their goal was to inform discussions about whether medical dramas should be shown in a classroom to spur conversations about ethics and professionalism among medical and nursing students.

Johns Hopkins University

Wonderful because messaging can spur conversations or get answers quickly from people who might not be directly next to you; but frustrating because messaging can be — especially in group chat rooms — noisy, distracting and hard to track if you're not paying attention all the time.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spur conversation" when you want to actively encourage or incite discussion around a particular topic or issue. It implies a deliberate effort to start a dialogue.

Common error

Avoid using "spur conversation" in situations where a gentle encouragement or invitation to speak is more appropriate. The word "spur" suggests a more forceful initiation, which may not always be suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spur conversation" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, where "spur" acts as a transitive verb meaning to stimulate or incite, and "conversation" is the direct object. This indicates the action of initiating or encouraging dialogue, confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spur conversation" is a phrase commonly used to describe the act of initiating or encouraging dialogue around a particular subject. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and provides various examples from authoritative sources, demonstrating its use across news, academic, and scientific contexts. While versatile, "spur" carries a slightly more forceful connotation than gentler alternatives like "encourage", so context is key. To enhance clarity, consider alternatives like "foster discussion" or "prompt communication" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase functions as verb phrase + noun, suggesting action of initiating discussion, a common and effective way to introduce new ideas or address challenging issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foster discussion

Replaces "conversation" with "discussion", implying a more structured and in-depth exchange.

encourage dialogue

Substitutes "spur" with "encourage" and "conversation" with "dialogue", suggesting a gentler approach to initiating communication.

prompt communication

Uses "prompt" instead of "spur" and "communication" in place of "conversation", focusing on initiating a broader exchange of information.

initiate talks

Replaces "spur" with "initiate" and "conversation" with "talks", implying the commencement of formal discussions.

trigger debate

Suggests starting a more formal and potentially contentious discussion.

stimulate exchange

Focuses on energizing and making more lively the interaction.

spark interaction

Substitutes "conversation" with "interaction", referring to any action or reciprocal influence.

generate discourse

Replace with a more academic and formal synonym

promote deliberation

Implies a careful and thorough discussion on a matter

invite input

Replace with a shorter synonym that invite opinion sharing on a topic

FAQs

How can I use "spur conversation" in a sentence?

You can use "spur conversation" to describe actions or events that encourage dialogue, such as: "The documentary aimed to "spur conversation" about climate change.".

What are some alternatives to "spur conversation"?

Some alternatives include "foster discussion", "encourage dialogue", or "prompt communication", each carrying slightly different nuances.

Is it better to "spur conversation" or "encourage conversation"?

"Spur conversation" implies a more direct and intentional effort to start a discussion, while "encourage conversation" suggests a gentler, more supportive approach. The choice depends on the desired impact.

What's the difference between "spur conversation" and "provoke conversation"?

"Spur conversation" suggests initiating a discussion, while "provoke conversation" often implies causing a strong or even controversial reaction, leading to discussion.