Espousal often implies a positive stance towards the supported cause.

Positive Connotation

Using 'espousal' suggests active effort in promoting one's beliefs, not just passive agreement.

Active Support

'Espousal' is formal and often used in written texts like essays or speeches.

In the context of marriage, 'espousal' means making a serious promise to wed.

'Espousal' refers to the period before the wedding, similar to an engagement.

Nowadays, 'espousal' sounds old-fashioned for engagement; modern speakers rarely use it.