a bit of a driving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bit of a driving" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe a small amount of driving or a casual reference to driving, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "After a bit of a driving session, I felt more comfortable behind the wheel."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I've been glad to have something big to focus on this year because my Paralympics didn't go too well and I've been able to use that as a bit of a driving force to push me harder this year".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr Kurnaz has become a bit of a celebrity, driving around Bremen in a sports car and no longer under round-the-clock surveillance.

The Economist

The 25-year-old Scot, who sold his red Ferrari last year because he felt "a bit of a prat" when driving it, has been travelling to the All England Club each day for the past fortnight in a friend's Polo.

Independent

"Especially in Wellington's quite narrow streets you can't hear it coming and I know that that's proved a bit of a challenge for people driving it".

Vice

We're working up a bit of a sweat now and are driving past Ocean Beach, where the surfers go.

The Guardian - Travel

City planning approved new zoning restrictions for the St. Georges area and so that's driving a bit of a redesign to the project.

The New York Times

A quick turn around the streets of a busy town will soon tell you that some people find simultaneous texting and walking, let alone texting and driving, a bit of a challenge.

Forbes

And after a bit of a lull in major self-driving tech funding news in late 2018 following the steady pace of deals for more than two years, 2019 has begun with a bang, with Nuro's news coming on the heels of $530 million in new funding for Aurora, a boutique autonomous tech startup led by Chris Urmson, a former Google colleague of Ferguson's and fellow Nuro cofounder Jiajun "JZ" Zhu.

Forbes

Vice President Joe Biden isn't ashamed to admit that when it comes to driving, he has a bit of a lead foot.

Huffington Post

Despite trailing, 2-0, the Yankees had seemingly gained a bit of an advantage on Weaver after driving up his pitch count in the first inning with some tough at-bats, none longer than the 15 pitches Derek Jeter saw before flying out.

The New York Times - Sports

Those all require a bit of driving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "a little driving" or "some driving" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. Avoid using "a bit of a driving" in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using double indefinite articles (e.g., "a bit of a") before gerunds like "driving". It often leads to awkward phrasing. Instead, opt for simpler constructions like "a little" or "some."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bit of a driving" attempts to function as a noun phrase, specifying an activity. However, the grammatical structure is flawed. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not correct in standard written English. The correct form would be "a bit of driving".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a bit of a driving" attempts to describe a small amount of driving activity, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting that "a little driving" or "some driving" are better alternatives. Usage is infrequent and mostly confined to informal or news contexts. For clearer and more professional communication, it's recommended to avoid this phrasing and opt for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little driving

Replaces the indefinite article 'a' with 'little' for grammatical correctness and conciseness.

some driving

Uses 'some' as a quantifier to indicate an unspecified amount of driving.

a short drive

Replaces 'driving' with 'drive', focusing on the activity as a noun.

a brief driving period

Adds 'period' to clarify the duration of the driving activity, making it more specific.

a bit of driving

Removes the second 'a' to create a more grammatically sound phrase.

a spot of driving

Uses 'spot' to indicate a small amount or period of driving, employing a more informal tone.

a spell of driving

Replaces "bit of" with "spell of" to indicate a period of time spent driving.

a small amount of driving

Explicitly states the quantity of driving as 'small'.

minimal driving

Uses 'minimal' to indicate a very small quantity of driving.

slight driving

Uses "slight" to describe the driving activity, implying it was not extensive.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "a bit of a driving"?

Consider using alternatives like "a little driving" or "some driving" which are clearer and more common.

Is "a bit of a driving" considered correct in formal English?

No, "a bit of a driving" is not considered standard English. It's better to use phrases like "a bit of driving" (without the extra "a") or other similar alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "a bit of a driving"?

While not grammatically ideal, "a bit of a driving" might appear in informal speech. However, for written communication, it's advisable to choose more precise phrasing such as "a short drive".

How can I rephrase "a bit of a driving" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, use phrases like "minimal driving" or "a small amount of driving". These options are more formal and clearer.