a big waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big waiting" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not typically used, as "waiting" is generally not described as "big." Example: "There was a big waiting period before the results were announced."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Why are these U.S. automakers not making them if Toyota has a big waiting list for the Prius?

Forbes

"There was a big waiting list down home [in Melbourne].

Vice

There was a big waiting list for her workshop, but Ed Dorn, a mentor of hers, told me I had to work with her.

Vice

He pointed out that my dentist had a big waiting room, several examination rooms and a full staff.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's hard to wait in a big waiting room with a slew of strangers, to sit next to someone who is just as scared as we are.

Huffington Post

"So it would be nice if we had, you know, a big room, a big waiting room with some small rooms that could be used for privacy for some people, right, within that big unit, that big… big waiting room.

BMC Anesthesiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

There's often a big wait at the port in Honolulu to the outer islands, but we had a friend of a friend who knew somebody at the shipping company who expedited the car to Maui.

The New York Times

"With it being such a big wait since the last international game until this one the excitement's been steadily building," Allen added.

BBC

Moscow saw a big wait, with crowded conditions in reseller stores, and Istanbul had a queue that wove around a public park and looks to have included hundreds.

TechCrunch

There was a big crowd, waiting on the steps and on the bits of grass, out onto the street.

The New Yorker

Think of a big cat waiting for a meal to present itself and you have an idea of Johnson's renewed state of mind.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a waiting period, it's better to use the term "wait" or "delay" with adjectives like "long", "extended", or "significant" instead of using "waiting" as a noun directly modified by "big".

Common error

Avoid using "waiting" directly after "big" to describe a period of time. The term "waiting" is a verb, and it is more appropriate to say "a long wait" or "a significant waiting period".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big waiting" attempts to function as a noun phrase, where "big" modifies "waiting". However, it is not grammatically correct in standard English because "waiting" is typically used as a verb or as part of a compound noun. Ludwig AI confirms this is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a big waiting" is not grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's more appropriate to use phrases like "a long wait" or "a significant delay" to accurately convey the intended meaning. While the analyzed sources demonstrate some usage, it's crucial to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism in both formal and informal communication. By avoiding this non-standard phrase, writers can maintain credibility and precision in their language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a long wait

Replaces 'big waiting' with 'long wait', focusing on the duration of waiting rather than its size. This phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

a considerable delay

Substitutes 'waiting' with 'delay', emphasizing the postponement and magnitude of the delay rather than the act of waiting itself.

a significant waiting period

Replaces "big" with "significant", and adds "period" to clarify the duration of time, resulting in a more formal and accurate phrase.

an extensive waiting list

Uses "extensive" to denote a long or large waiting list, specifying the context as a list of people waiting.

a prolonged anticipation

Replaces the concrete "waiting" with the more abstract "anticipation", suggesting a long period of expecting something.

a substantial queue

Focuses on the physical line or queue, using "substantial" to indicate its size or length.

a major holdup

Replaces "waiting" with "holdup", emphasizing the interruption or stoppage causing the wait.

an extensive delay

Emphasizes the prolonged nature of the delay rather than the act of waiting.

a considerable lag

Uses "lag" to indicate a delay or gap in time, focusing on the time difference rather than the waiting itself.

a significant standstill

Replaces "waiting" with "standstill", indicating a halt or pause that causes the waiting.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to express "a big waiting"?

Instead of "a big waiting", use phrases such as "a long wait", "a significant delay", or "an extended waiting period" to convey the same idea with better grammar.

How does "a big wait" differ from "a big waiting"?

"A big wait" is grammatically sound and commonly used to describe a long delay. "A big waiting", however, is not standard English. Always prefer the noun form "wait" over the verb form "waiting" in this context.

When is it appropriate to use the word "waiting" in a sentence?

The term "waiting" is best used as a verb, as in "I am waiting", or as part of a compound noun, like "waiting room" or "waiting list". Avoid using it as a noun directly modified by an adjective like "big".

Are there contexts where "a big waiting" might be acceptable?

No, "a big waiting" is not considered standard English in any context. Using alternative phrases like "a long wait" or "a significant delay" ensures clarity and grammatical correctness.