stimulate a conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stimulate a conversation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of encouraging or provoking discussion on a particular topic. Example: "The speaker's thought-provoking ideas were designed to stimulate a conversation among the audience about climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In Ossining, Ms. Newman used several scenarios to stimulate a conversation about teenagers and guns.

The New York Times

Mr. Stern has begun a blog that seeks to stimulate a conversation not just within labor, but among many groups, about Wal-Mart, which has more than 3,500 stores and 1.2 million employees nationwide.

The New York Times

I personally read criticism – at least by writers I enjoy – to stimulate a conversation in my own mind, and I like to think that's the function I serve for others.

The New York Times

Despite these shortcomings, it is the conviction of the researchers that the conceptualisation puts forward will stimulate a conversation among marketing scholars about the potential hazards of strategy myopia and the benefits of strategy integration for the marketing discipline (Davis et al. 2013).

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

I like to use a variety of engagement questions to stimulate a conversation for my clients.

Huffington Post

The specific methods used in such ethnographic process evaluations are rarely presented in detail; our objective is to stimulate a conversation around the successes and challenges of specific data collection methods in health care settings.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

She added: "This is both symbolic and real in the sense that people are actually being relieved of their debt, but it's also stimulating a conversation about hasn't been had".

The Guardian

The survey was designed to stimulate a national conversation among tribes on building codes.

Environmental Health Perspectives

They stimulate a lot of conversation.

The New York Times - Sports

Study questions were chosen with the intention to stimulate a free-flowing conversation in English (the official language of Botswana) to explore IRB members' own views on the collection and use of biospecimens, as well as what they perceived to be the views of local communities.

BMC Medical Ethics

"From working with children and young people, to stimulating a national conversation about digital creativity, the BBC will help audiences embrace technology and get creative," the corporation said in a blog post.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use specific questions or prompts to effectively "stimulate a conversation", ensuring the discussion remains focused and engaging.

Common error

Relying on overly broad or generic prompts can lead to unfocused and unproductive discussions. Ensure your opening remarks are tailored to the audience and topic at hand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stimulate a conversation" functions as a verb phrase followed by an article and a noun, acting as a verb phrase within a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

39%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stimulate a conversation" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of encouraging or initiating a discussion. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability. It's often found in news, scientific, and general contexts, aiming to provoke engagement and an exchange of ideas. Related phrases include "spark a conversation" or "foster a discussion". For effective use, employ specific prompts to keep discussions focused, and avoid vague openers that can lead to unfocused conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spark a conversation

Changes the verb to "spark", indicating a sudden initiation of the conversation.

foster a discussion

Replaces "conversation" with "discussion" and "stimulate" with "foster", suggesting a more nurturing and deliberate approach.

prompt a dialogue

Uses "dialogue" instead of "conversation", implying a more formal and structured exchange.

encourage a discussion

Emphasizes the act of giving support and confidence to start a conversation.

initiate a conversation

Focuses specifically on the starting point of the conversation.

trigger a discussion

Suggests that the conversation started unexpectedly or rapidly due to some event.

generate a conversation

Implies that conversation is created or produced as a result of an action.

incite a discussion

Suggests that the conversation started because people were driven to speak, like it was an uproar.

provoke a conversation

Indicates a conversation started as a reaction to something controversial.

cultivate a discussion

Changes the verb to "cultivate", emphasizing a careful and gradual development of the conversation.

FAQs

What does "stimulate a conversation" mean?

The phrase "stimulate a conversation" means to encourage, provoke, or initiate a discussion or exchange of ideas between people.

How can I "stimulate a conversation" in a group setting?

You can "stimulate a conversation" by asking open-ended questions, sharing interesting facts, or introducing a thought-provoking topic that is relevant to the group.

What are some alternatives to "stimulate a conversation"?

You can use alternatives like "spark a conversation", "foster a discussion", or "initiate a conversation" depending on the context.

Is it better to "stimulate a conversation" or "encourage a conversation"?

Both "stimulate a conversation" and "encourage a conversation" are correct, but "stimulate" suggests a more active and intentional effort to provoke discussion, while "encourage" implies providing support and confidence to facilitate it.