What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
exhort
Example
The coach exhorted the team to give their best effort in the game. [exhorted: past tense]
Example
The speaker exhorted the audience to take action against climate change. [exhorting: present participle]
encourage
Example
I always encourage my students to ask questions and participate in class. [encourage: verb]
Example
The success of her first book encouraged her to write more. [encouraged: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Encourage is more commonly used than exhort in everyday language. Encourage is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while exhort is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between exhort and encourage?
Exhort is typically associated with a more formal or literary tone, while encourage is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
