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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
spur to try
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "spur to try" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey motivation or encouragement to attempt something, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The coach's words served as a spur to try harder during the final match."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Wiki
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
In many cases, redundancy or a period of unemployment gives people the spur to try a voluntary job.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
John Allen Riggins, the Little Rock senior who initiated his school's application, said he was spurred to try to bring the sapling over because "we don't often see the immediate impact that young people have on social issues".
News & Media
After coming across an image online of every airplane that took off in a single day from a German airport (Flughaven by Ho-yeol Ryu, seen below) Kuckenbaker was spurred to try the same technique--only this time with film.��.
News & Media
Milan will be forced to throw everything at Spurs to try to retrieve the deficit.
News & Media
The idea behind Horizon was that a successful private experiment would spur lawmakers to try a public version.
News & Media
Genentech suggested that it started the Lucentis rebate program now to spur doctors to try the drug to treat retinal vein occlusion.
News & Media
That may spur him to try to ensure a global climate agreement is part of his legacy.
News & Media
And plant lust spurred me to try again.
News & Media
The child-archer craze is also spurring adults to try the sport.
News & Media
The hope, now, is that he may be spurred on to try ramming through other big reforms on pensions, for example.
News & Media
But summer spikes in gas prices, reaching beyond $4 a gallon, spurred them to try a new kind of trip this year.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Instead of using the phrase "spur to try", opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "incentive to attempt" or "motivation to try" to ensure effective communication.
Common error
Avoid using the phrase "spur to try" when simpler and more direct options are available. Overly complex phrasing can confuse your audience and diminish the impact of your message.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "spur to try" functions as a purpose connector, aiming to link an action or event with the intention of prompting an attempt. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and suggests clearer alternatives.
Frequent in
News & Media
50%
Wiki
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Science
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "spur to try" is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI and is rarely used in standard written English. While it aims to convey a purpose or motivation for attempting something, it's better to opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "incentive to attempt" or "motivation to try". The few examples of its use come from news and media sources, but this does not validate its grammatical correctness. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing and opt for more established alternatives.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
motivate to attempt
Replaces "spur" with "motivate" and simplifies the verb "try" to "attempt", keeping a similar meaning.
encourage to undertake
Uses "encourage" as a substitute for "spur" and replaces "try" with "undertake", suggesting a slightly more formal approach.
inspire to endeavor
Employs "inspire" for a more uplifting tone instead of "spur", and uses "endeavor" to replace "try", implying a significant effort.
prompt to initiate
Replaces "spur" with "prompt" and "try" with "initiate", indicating a push to start something.
incite to commence
Uses "incite" to suggest a stronger level of encouragement than "spur", and substitutes "try" with "commence", giving a formal tone.
drive to venture
Employs "drive" to convey strong motivation and replaces "try" with "venture", indicating a willingness to take risks.
stimulate to explore
Replaces "spur" with "stimulate" to suggest mental encouragement and substitutes "try" with "explore", implying investigation.
impel to pursue
Uses "impel" to suggest a strong internal force and replaces "try" with "pursue", indicating dedicated effort.
urge to tackle
Employs "urge" for a sense of immediate need and replaces "try" with "tackle", implying a direct confrontation.
push to tackle
Similar to urge but without implying high sense of urgency, and replaces "try" with "tackle", implying a direct confrontation.
FAQs
What are some alternatives to "spur to try"?
You can use alternatives like "incentive to attempt", "motivation to try", or "encourage to undertake depending on the context.
Is "spur to try" grammatically correct?
No, "spur to try" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It is better to use phrases like "spur someone on" or "motivate someone to try".
How can I use "spur" correctly in a sentence?
Use "spur" as a verb to mean 'to encourage' or 'to prompt'. For example, "The coach's pep talk "spurred the team to victory"".
What does "spur" mean in the context of motivation?
In the context of motivation, "spur" means to give an impulse or encouragement to someone to do something. It suggests a sudden burst of energy or enthusiasm.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested