strongly discouraged

USAGE SUMMARY

"strongly discouraged" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something should be avoided. For example: "The use of plastic straws is strongly discouraged due to the environmental damage they can cause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I happen to agree that anonymous sex (or connubial sex for that matter) in public restrooms should be strongly discouraged — even more strongly discouraged, perhaps, than boom-box playing, prolonged shouting, or inaccurate barfing.

The New Yorker

(Dressing up is strongly discouraged).

The New York Times - Arts

Women were strongly discouraged from entering.

The Guardian - Books

Efforts to bypass all this were strongly discouraged.

The Guardian - Books

Testifying is strongly discouraged; witnesses are intimidated, or worse.

The Guardian - Opinion

Isolating transgender inmates in "protective custody" is strongly discouraged.

The New York Times

Intermarriage and relations with other Muslims were strongly discouraged.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Those with an aversion to heights or a tendency to claustrophobia were strongly discouraged.

The New York Times - Travel

(Jewelry, nail polish and excessive body hair, particularly under the arms, were strongly discouraged).

The New York Times - Style

Sex with shelter workers is forbidden, and sex with other residents is strongly discouraged.

The New York Times

During sleep, less oxygen is taken in, another reason that sedatives are strongly discouraged.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strongly discouraged", ensure the context clearly explains why the action is being discouraged. Providing a reason strengthens the message and makes it more persuasive.

Common error

Avoid using "strongly discouraged" in situations where a simple suggestion or recommendation would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly forceful or negative. Consider softer alternatives like "not recommended" or "advised against" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strongly discouraged" functions as a passive construction where an action or behavior is being actively disapproved. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, highlighting its role in clearly expressing disapproval.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

35%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strongly discouraged" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to explicitly advise against certain actions or behaviors. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for conveying disapproval across a variety of contexts, including news, science, and business. While it is important to use it judiciously to avoid sounding overly forceful, understanding its nuances and available alternatives can enhance your writing. Analysis reveals that it appears most commonly in News & Media and Scientific sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roundly discouraged

Emphasis on the extent of discouragement.

resolutely discouraged

Highlights the firm and determined nature of the discouragement.

energetically discouraged

Focuses on the enthusiastic and active nature of the discouragement.

strongly advised against

Shifts from discouragement to explicit advice, emphasizing caution.

sternly discouraged

Emphasizes the seriousness and severity of the discouragement.

strongly deterred

Focuses on preventing action through discouragement.

firmly discouraged

Highlights the steadfast nature of the discouragement.

vehemently discouraged

Expresses a passionate and forceful level of discouragement.

highly inadvisable

Indicates that a course of action is not recommended due to potential negative consequences.

not recommended

Expresses that something is not the best action to follow

FAQs

How can I use "strongly discouraged" in a sentence?

You can use "strongly discouraged" to express that something should be avoided. For example, "The use of single-use plastics is "strongly discouraged" due to its environmental impact."

What can I say instead of "strongly discouraged"?

Alternatives to "strongly discouraged" include "not recommended", "advised against", or "highly inadvisable", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "strongly discourage" instead of "strongly discouraged"?

The phrase "strongly discourage" is used when someone or something is doing the discouraging, while "strongly discouraged" means that something is being discouraged. For example, "We strongly discourage the use of plastic bags" versus "The use of plastic bags is "strongly discouraged"."

What is the difference between "strongly discouraged" and "prohibited"?

"Strongly discouraged" implies a strong recommendation against doing something, but it's not necessarily forbidden. "Prohibited", on the other hand, means that something is officially forbidden by a rule or law.