summon my courage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "summon my courage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of gathering inner strength or bravery to face a challenging situation. Example: "Before stepping onto the stage, I had to summon my courage to deliver the speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On the last day of camp, to summon my courage for the final challenge, and to enjoy the moment, I paused in my kayak at the edge of a concrete ramp.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I had turned 40, my days as a romantic leading man in musicals were surely numbered, and I needed to summon up my courage and stand toe-to-toe with the big men: Shakespeare, Chekhov, O'Neill.

The Guardian

So, I summoned all my courage, walked up to him and said … Oh wait, this is my stop".

The Guardian

"I brought you a present today, Ed," I said, summoning all my courage.

Huffington Post

I summoned all my courage; I armed myself with my big sunglasses and a NRA baseball cap and walked down Hollywood Boulevard.

Huffington Post

I summoned up all my courage and told them where to go... to find it... of which there was quite a bit.

Huffington Post

My relationships have always fallen apart thanks to my inability to summon the courage I need to quit, and the dulling of my conscience has led to a regrettably long list of mistakes and bad decisions.

Vice

And I grabbed my coat and ran out of the office, and over the course of the next couple of weeks, I started to summon the courage to tell my friends and my family.

Huffington Post

When I was in college, AIDS cast a pall of fear over gay life, and I struggled to summon the courage to tell my closest friends who I was.

The New Yorker

"I am pained that my other colleagues could not summon the courage to run away with me," Ms Lawan said.

Independent

I finally summon the courage to look directly at him and notice his eyes staring at my foot, which I'm bouncing up and down.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "summon my courage" when you want to emphasize the deliberate act of calling upon inner strength to face a challenge or perform a difficult task.

Common error

Avoid using "summon my courage" when the courage arises spontaneously and without conscious effort. This phrase implies a deliberate calling upon one's inner strength.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "summon my courage" functions as a verbal phrase where "summon" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("courage"). As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "summon my courage" is a grammatically correct and usable expression referring to the deliberate act of gathering inner strength. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is appropriate in a variety of contexts, though examples suggest it is most commonly found in News & Media. While other options like "muster my courage" or "gather my courage" exist, "summon my courage" effectively communicates the conscious effort to call upon one's bravery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

muster my courage

Replaces "summon" with "muster", emphasizing the act of gathering courage that already exists.

gather my courage

Substitutes "summon" with "gather", highlighting the collection of courage.

find my courage

Uses "find" instead of "summon", suggesting the courage was present but needed to be located.

steel myself

Employs a more figurative expression, implying the hardening of one's resolve.

brace myself

Focuses on preparing oneself mentally and emotionally for a difficult situation.

nerve myself

Implies an effort to become brave or confident.

pluck up my courage

Uses a more old-fashioned idiom to convey the act of gathering courage.

fortify my spirit

Replaces "courage" with "spirit", shifting the focus to inner strength and resilience.

bolster my resolve

Highlights the strengthening of one's determination and commitment.

get up my nerve

An alternative expression that focuses on acquiring the necessary boldness.

FAQs

How can I use "summon my courage" in a sentence?

You can use "summon my courage" to describe the act of deliberately gathering inner strength to face a challenging situation. For example: "Before stepping onto the stage, I had to summon my courage to deliver the speech."

What's a more common way to say "summon my courage"?

While "summon my courage" is correct, alternatives like "muster my courage" or "gather my courage" may sound more natural to some speakers.

Is "summon my courage" formal or informal?

"Summon my courage" is generally considered neutral in tone. While not overly formal, it is appropriate for both written and spoken contexts.

What does it mean to "summon" something?

To "summon" something means to call upon it or bring it forth. In the context of "summon my courage", it refers to calling upon your inner strength or bravery.