spur innovation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'spur innovation' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean "encourage or motivate something to become more innovative". You could use it in a sentence such as: "The government has taken several initiatives to spur innovation and technological advancement within the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

In America, this could be an innovative way to spur innovation and prevent a monopoly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some will spur innovation.

The New York Times

But they also spur innovation.

The Economist

As Alfred Nobel knew, prizes spur innovation.

The Economist

"On the contrary, patents spur innovation".

The New York Times

Some small-business owners support bold policies to spur innovation.

The New York Times

The same market-based competition will spur innovation.

The Economist

A few have created formal programs to spur innovation.

The Guardian - Business

The aim is to spur innovation and curb rising age-related health costs.

The Economist

The system, adopted by Western Maryland in 2010, helps spur innovation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Her initial American job was to integrate 2 newly acquired companies into Ericsson and spur innovation--a daunting task.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing policy or strategic initiatives, use "spur innovation" to emphasize the intent to activate and accelerate the creation of new ideas and technologies. It's particularly effective when you want to highlight the dynamic and active nature of the encouragement.

Common error

Avoid using "spur innovation" when describing environments that are inherently innovative without external influence. The phrase implies an active intervention to create momentum, which might not be appropriate if innovation is already self-sustaining.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spur innovation" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, acting as a transitive construction where "spur" is the verb and "innovation" is the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spur innovation" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that means to encourage or accelerate the creation and development of new ideas. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely used and accepted. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Scientific and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, it's best to use "spur innovation" when describing actions that actively promote new ideas, and to avoid using it in static environments. Alternatives include ""foster innovation"" and ""encourage innovation"". By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "spur innovation" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foster innovation

Emphasizes nurturing and cultivating innovative ideas.

encourage innovation

Highlights the act of giving support and confidence to innovate.

stimulate innovation

Focuses on exciting or arousing interest in innovative activities.

promote innovation

Suggests actively advocating for and raising the profile of innovation.

drive innovation

Implies a forceful push to make innovation happen.

accelerate innovation

Focuses on speeding up the process of innovation.

cultivate innovation

Suggests carefully developing and refining innovative ideas over time.

ignite innovation

Implies setting off a burst of innovative activity.

catalyze innovation

Highlights the ability to initiate or accelerate innovation.

propel innovation

Suggests a strong force pushing innovation forward.

FAQs

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

You can use "spur innovation" to describe actions or policies that encourage the development of new ideas and technologies. For example: "The new tax incentives are designed to "spur innovation" in the renewable energy sector."

What are some alternatives to "spur innovation"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "foster innovation", "encourage innovation", or "stimulate innovation" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "spur on innovation"?

While "spur" can be used with "on" in other contexts, it's more common and grammatically sound to simply say ""spur innovation"" when referring to encouraging or accelerating innovation.

What's the difference between "spur innovation" and "boost innovation"?

"Spur innovation" implies initiating or accelerating the process, while "boost innovation" suggests enhancing or strengthening existing innovative efforts. The choice depends on whether you're starting something new or improving something that already exists.