to incentivise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to incentivise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of motivating or encouraging someone to take a specific action, often through rewards or benefits. Example: "The company decided to incentivise employees by offering bonuses for meeting sales targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are efforts to incentivise individuals.

The Guardian

It used it to incentivise other cities to bid.

The Guardian - Sport

Cameron said there was a need to incentivise prisons.

The Guardian

The package was backed by the bank's institutional shareholders to "incentivise" Mr Hester.

The Economist

The mums who researchers want to offer vouchers to incentivise them to breast feed, for example.

Independent

Attempts to incentivise US teachers to bump up grades have generally proven ineffective, however.

The Economist

The organisation used £10 million to incentivise universities to push these "strategically important" subjects.

The Guardian

That's certainly not cheap enough to incentivise anyone out of driving.

The Guardian

A partial citizen's income to incentivise work would be £4,600, the same as children's CI.

The Guardian - Opinion

Subsequently, the exercise has been set up to incentivise other behaviours.

The Guardian

The government has also accepted O'Neill's proposals to incentivise the development of new drugs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to incentivise", ensure that the incentive is clearly defined and directly linked to the desired outcome. A well-defined incentive makes the goal more attainable and the motivation more effective.

Common error

Avoid assuming that financial rewards are the only way "to incentivise". Consider non-monetary incentives such as recognition, increased autonomy, or opportunities for professional development, as these can be equally or even more effective in certain contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to incentivise" functions as an infinitive of purpose. It indicates the reason or aim behind an action, specifically to provide motivation or encouragement for a particular outcome. Ludwig AI affirms this by showcasing its use in numerous sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to incentivise" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that serves as an infinitive of purpose, indicating an intent to motivate or encourage a specific action. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most frequently encountered in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the incentive is well-defined and linked to the desired outcome, while also considering a range of incentives beyond purely financial rewards. Remember that "to incentivize" is an acceptable alternative, specifically in American English. Avoid common writing mistakes by thinking of non-monetary incentives as recognition, increased autonomy, or opportunities for professional development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to incentivize

This is the American English spelling and is directly interchangeable.

to give an incentive

This is a more verbose alternative that highlights the act of providing a reward.

to encourage

This is a general term for giving someone support or confidence. It is a less forceful alternative.

to motivate

This focuses on providing a reason or incentive to act. It emphasizes internal drive.

to stimulate

This suggests triggering activity or development. It is often used in economic contexts.

to offer a reward

This focuses on the tangible benefit provided as motivation.

to provide encouragement

This focuses on offering support and confidence to inspire action.

to prompt

This implies urging someone to do something. It suggests a gentle push.

to induce

This means persuading or influencing someone. It can suggest a more subtle form of motivation.

to create an impetus

This suggests generating a driving force or momentum.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "to incentivise" in a sentence?

Use "to incentivise" to show the purpose of offering a specific incentive for a desired action. For instance, "The company decided "to incentivise employees" with bonuses for meeting quarterly targets."

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "to incentivise"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "to motivate", "to encourage", or "to stimulate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "to incentivise" and "to incentivize"?

"To incentivise" is the British English spelling, while "to incentivize" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but you should maintain consistency within your writing.

When is it appropriate to use "to incentivise" in formal writing?

"To incentivise" is suitable for formal writing when discussing strategies to encourage specific behaviors or outcomes. It's especially appropriate in business, economics, and policy contexts where incentives are a key consideration.