spur up

USAGE SUMMARY

'spur up' is not a common phrase used in written English, and it is likely to be misunderstood by readers.
Instead of using 'spur up', you could use a phrase such as 'spur on' or 'spur forward'. For example, you could say: "His inspirational speech helped to spur the team on to success."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The idea is to attract more infrastructure investment from the private sector: by creating an infrastructure bank with $10 billion now, they say, they could spur up to $640 billion worth of infrastructure spending over the next decade.

The New York Times

It is in countries' national interests to really spur up this transformation [to a low-carbon economy]." If the UN negotiations are to succeed this year, Figueres will play the pivotal role.

The Guardian

Slide the tailstock center spur up to the center of the other end of the wood, locking it down.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The resultant benefits have spurred up competition from big banks like First Bank, GTbank and Access Bank for SME market share.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

By overcoming the challenges to be used in therapeutic delivery, the modification of GBNs in biological systems spurs up further developments in biomedical applications.

Nano-Micro Letters

A luxury 3-star resort has sprung up in the vicinity, and is a great example of how this technology hub is spurring up economic development in this area!

Huffington Post

Leaders there estimate that the law will reduce the equivalent of 45 million cars worth of carbon pollution by 2020, spurring up to $10 billion in new, clean energy investment along the way.

Huffington Post

Duncan and Robinson threw down dunks for San Antonio's first two baskets and a 3-pointer by Danny Ferry put the Spurs up by double digits within eight minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

The experience in Switzerland was uppermost in the manager's mind when he made that comment and he said he would be "committing suicide" if he set Spurs up in a 4-4-2 formation against Werder Bremen.

The Guardian - Sport

Spurs up to fifth in the table.

BBC

Andros Townsend, who got Spurs up and running with a penalty, paid tribute to fellow scorer Harry Kane by tweeting:  "Another good win!

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey incitement or provocation, verify if "spur on" captures the specific nuance effectively. If not, consider alternative wording to improve precision.

Common error

Avoid using "spur up" when a more direct verb like "stimulate" or "accelerate" would provide greater clarity and precision. The 'up' can introduce ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spur up" functions as a phrasal verb, aiming to convey the idea of initiating or accelerating an action or process. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's not a very common expression and its usage may lead to misinterpretations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "spur up" aims to express the idea of encouraging or accelerating an action, it is an uncommon and potentially ambiguous phrasal verb. Ludwig AI suggests that it's not a standard phrase, and its usage may lead to misinterpretations. Common contexts include news and media, wiki, and science. Given its low frequency and potential for confusion, it's generally advisable to opt for more conventional alternatives like "spur on", "encourage", or "stimulate" for clarity and precision. When writing professionally, it is important to use phrases with more clarity, which can be achieved by employing more conventional alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spur on

Focuses on encouragement and motivation to continue an action.

stimulate

Highlights the act of causing activity or development.

encourage

Emphasizes providing support and confidence.

boost

Implies an increase or improvement in something.

foster

Suggests nurturing or promoting growth.

galvanize

Conveys the idea of shocking or exciting someone into action.

propel

Implies a strong force pushing something forward.

accelerate

Focuses on increasing the speed or rate of something.

incite

Highlights provoking or urging someone to act, often in a negative context.

trigger

Implies setting off a chain of events or reactions.

FAQs

What does "spur up" mean?

While not a standard phrase, "spur up" can be interpreted as meaning to stimulate, encourage, or accelerate something. However, it's not widely used, so consider clearer alternatives.

What can I say instead of "spur up"?

You can use alternatives like "spur on", "encourage", or "stimulate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "spur up" or "spur on"?

"Spur on" is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted phrasal verb. "Spur up" is less common and potentially ambiguous.

Is "spur up" considered formal or informal?

Due to its infrequent and somewhat ambiguous usage, "spur up" isn't particularly suited for either formal or informal contexts. Opt for clearer alternatives in professional or academic writing.