Press Someone Into Doing vs. Press Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents press + object + to-infinitive when someone tries hard to persuade another person to act. The cited entry directly supports the to-infinitive construction; it does not establish press + object + into + -ing as an equally documented parallel in this sense.
Use “press someone to do something” for the directly documented persuasion pattern; do not infer equal support for “press someone into doing” from this source.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| urge or try hard to persuade a person to act | press + person + to-infinitive | Use the directly documented persuasion pattern. |
| press physically or use another sense | use the construction required by that sense | Do not transfer the persuasion complement mechanically to every sense of “press.” |
| into + -ing as a claimed equal pattern from this evidence | not established by the reviewed source | Do not infer equal support for “press someone into doing” from this source alone. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Do you mean urge or try hard to persuade a person to perform an action?
If yes: Use “press someone to do something.”
If no: Use the construction required by the different sense; do not infer an unsupported parallel complement.
Examples
They pressed him to reconsider the offer.
The documented persuasion pattern uses a person followed by a to-infinitive.
She pressed the committee to respond quickly.
The person/group being urged precedes the to-infinitive.
Do not choose a complement by analogy with unrelated coercion verbs.
The reviewed evidence directly supports “press someone to do” for this persuasion sense.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry directly supports the to-infinitive construction; it does not establish press + object + into + -ing as an equally documented parallel in this sense.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents press + object + to-infinitive when someone tries hard to persuade another person to act.
Decision
Use “press someone to do something” for the directly documented persuasion pattern; do not infer equal support for “press someone into doing” from this source.
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.
- press — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Dictionary construction showing press + object + to-infinitive in the persuasion sense