a digression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a digression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a temporary departure from the main topic in speech or writing. Example: "While discussing the main theme of the book, the author often includes a digression about his personal experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He is constantly digressing from his own tangent, so he's digressing from a digression".

The New York Times

"He felt like a digression that had forgotten from what it digressed" is a typical utterance here.

The New York Times - Books

But this is a digression.

The New Yorker

Can I take a digression?

The Washington Post

The thought sets off a digression.

The New York Times - Arts

Anyway, that's a digression from a digression, which is good going for paragraph one.

The Guardian - Sport

That might seem like a digression, but it really isn't.

The New York Times

Les Misérables begins with a digression from a digression (thus resembling Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary, which a few years earlier had begun with a digression, too).

The Guardian - Books

Then they took a digression that turned into a destination.

The New York Times - Food

"People don't want to search; it's a digression," he said.

The New York Times

In that case, nothing will ever be a digression.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "a digression" to add depth and context to your writing, but ensure it remains relevant to the overall theme.

Common error

Avoid excessive use of "a digression", as too many can distract readers from the main argument and weaken the overall impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a digression" is as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it used to introduce temporary departures from the main topic. Ludwig AI confirm its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a digression" functions as a noun phrase that signals a temporary departure from the main topic, offering additional context or related information. Ludwig examples show its prevalence across various source types including news, academia, and books. The analysis confirms it is grammatically correct and very common. Remember to use it purposefully to enrich your writing without losing focus on your central theme. According to Ludwig AI, the alternatives "an "aside"" or "a "tangent"" are suitable replacements based on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an aside

Focuses on a brief departure from the main subject, often adding related information.

a tangent

Implies a sudden and potentially lengthy shift away from the original topic.

a deviation

Highlights a departure from an expected course or path of discussion.

an excursus

Indicates a more extended and formal digression, often in academic writing.

a parenthesis

Suggests an insertion of additional information that interrupts the flow of the main text or speech.

an offshoot

Implies a related but secondary development stemming from the main topic.

a departure

Indicates a general move away from a previous point or topic.

a divergence

Emphasizes the act of branching off or becoming different from the original subject.

a detour

Suggests a temporary deviation before returning to the main topic.

a non sequitur

Focuses on an unrelated statement that does not logically follow the previous one.

FAQs

How to use "a digression" in a sentence?

You can use "a digression" to introduce a temporary departure from the main topic, providing related information or context. For example, "That may seem like "a digression", but it really isn't."

What can I say instead of "a digression"?

You can use alternatives like "an "aside"", "a "tangent"", or "a "deviation"" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to include "a digression" in writing?

It's appropriate to include "a digression" when it provides relevant context, interesting insights, or clarifies a point related to the main topic, without overly distracting from the central argument.

What's the difference between "a digression" and "an aside"?

While both refer to a departure from the main topic, "a digression" is generally more substantial and integrated into the overall text, whereas an "an "aside"" is often a brief, parenthetical remark.