Encouraging English to stay so popular (9)

I believe the answer is:

enthusing

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'encouraging' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being present participle verbs.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'english to stay so popular' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'eng' (abbreviation).
'to stay' indicates putting letters inside (stay can mean to restrain or control).
'so' becomes 'thus' (synonyms).
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'thus'+'in'='thusin'
'eng' placed around 'thusin' is 'ENTHUSING'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for enthusing that I've seen is " Being full of praise for hugest inn".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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