spur interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spur interest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to stimulate curiosity or enthusiasm about a topic, event, or idea. Example: "The new marketing campaign aims to spur interest in our latest product line among consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The society hopes an ambitious renovation and expansion plan will spur interest in the institution.

The New York Times - Arts

His goal in the past was to spur interest in future commissions.

The New York Times

There is hope, in particular, that Henry (pronounced ON-ry) will spur interest in the New York area.

The New York Times - Sports

Track's marquee event, the Summer Olympics, usually does little to spur interest or generate income at the collegiate level.

The New York Times - Sports

Just as falling prices seemed to spur interest, the rebound seems to have dampened it a bit.

The New York Times

That interest helped spur interest in a crowdfunding campaign — titled "The Open Hand Project: A Low Cost Robotic Hand" — that raised almost £44,000 in one month.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

What spurred interest in recycling?

The New York Times

Consumer fears about biotechnology spurring interest.

The New York Times

Last spring's announcement spurred interest from potential buyers, according to a person briefed on the matter.

The New York Times

But tour operators say the unrest may have actually spurred interest in the region.

The New York Times

The team's teacher, William Duffy, said the robotics competition had spurred interest in engineering.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spur interest" when you want to highlight that you will give incentives

Common error

Avoid phrases like "interest was spurred" when you can use an active voice. For example, instead of "The announcement spurred interest", say "The announcement spurred interest".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spur interest" functions as a verb phrase where "spur" acts as a transitive verb meaning to stimulate or incite, and "interest" is the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is frequently used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spur interest" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that means to stimulate or incite curiosity and enthusiasm. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered correct in written English and commonly appears in diverse contexts, most notably in News & Media, Science, and Wiki. Alternative phrases such as "generate interest", "ignite interest", and "stimulate interest" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in nuance. When using "spur interest", focus on specific actions that prompt increased interest, while avoiding passive voice constructions. By considering its context and exploring its alternatives, you can effectively communicate your intended meaning with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generate interest

Focuses on creating interest where none existed before.

ignite interest

Implies a sudden and intense burst of interest.

stimulate interest

Suggests a gentle encouragement of existing interest.

foster interest

Indicates nurturing and developing interest over time.

cultivate interest

Emphasizes careful and deliberate development of interest.

arouse interest

Implies awakening a dormant interest.

spark interest

Similar to ignite, but less intense, suggesting a small beginning.

encourage interest

Focuses on providing support and motivation to develop interest.

boost interest

Implies increasing the level of existing interest.

promote interest

Suggests actively advertising and making interest more widespread.

FAQs

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

You can use "spur interest" to describe actions that aim to increase curiosity or enthusiasm. For example, "The new marketing campaign aims to "generate interest" in our latest product line."

What are some alternatives to "spur interest"?

Alternatives include "generate interest", "ignite interest", or "stimulate interest", each conveying a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to say "spur interest" or "generate interest"?

Both "spur interest" and "generate interest" are correct. "Spur interest" suggests prompting existing, perhaps latent, interest, while "generate interest" implies creating it from scratch.

What's the difference between "spur interest" and "encourage interest"?

"Spur interest" often implies a more immediate and direct action to provoke interest, while "encourage interest" suggests providing ongoing support and motivation.