Coerce Someone Into Doing vs. Coerce Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents coerce + object + into + -ing for forcefully persuading someone to do something they are unwilling to do. The dictionary definition paraphrases the meaning with a to-infinitive after “persuade,” but that paraphrase does not itself license coerce + object + to-infinitive as the target construction.
Use “coerce someone into doing something” for the directly documented construction; do not treat “coerce someone to do” as an equally documented parallel on this evidence.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| forcefully persuade someone to act | coerce + object + into + -ing | This is the directly documented target construction in the reviewed evidence. |
| object + to-infinitive after “coerce” | coerce + object + to-infinitive | Do not treat the dictionary definition’s paraphrase with “persuade … to” as proof of this construction. |
Quick tests
Evidence-boundary test
Do you need the construction directly supported by the reviewed Cambridge entry?
If yes: Use “coerce someone into doing something.”
If no: If considering “coerce someone to do,” verify that construction with separate evidence rather than inferring it from a definition paraphrase.
Caveat: This is an evidence-bounded recommendation, not a claim that every other construction is impossible in all varieties or contexts.
Examples
The threat coerced him into signing the document.
The into + -ing pattern matches the directly documented construction.
For this evidence set, “coerce someone into doing” is the supported model to follow.
This keeps the recommendation within the inspected construction.
A definition that says “persuade someone to do something” describes meaning; it does not automatically establish the same complement after “coerce.”
Meaning paraphrases and target grammar patterns are separate evidence questions.
Further guidance
Boundary
The dictionary definition paraphrases the meaning with a to-infinitive after “persuade,” but that paraphrase does not itself license coerce + object + to-infinitive as the target construction.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents coerce + object + into + -ing for forcefully persuading someone to do something they are unwilling to do.
Decision
Use “coerce someone into doing something” for the directly documented construction; do not treat “coerce someone to do” as an equally documented parallel on this evidence.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- coerce someone into something/doing something — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Coerce + object + into + -ing construction