What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fostering
Example
The organization is committed to fostering innovation and creativity among its employees. [fostering: verb]
Example
The teacher's role is to foster a love of learning in their students. [foster: verb]
encouraging
Example
The coach's words were encouraging and helped the team to stay motivated. [encouraging: adjective]
Example
I want to encourage you to keep trying, even if it seems difficult. [encourage: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Encouraging is more commonly used than fostering in everyday language. Encouraging is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while fostering is less common and refers to a more specific type of support.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between fostering and encouraging?
Both fostering and encouraging can be used in formal and informal contexts, but fostering may be slightly more formal due to its less frequent usage.