a passing comment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passing comment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a remark or observation that is made quickly or without much thought, often in a casual context. Example: "During the meeting, she made a passing comment about the project's timeline that caught everyone's attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Playing off a passing comment, Colbert called for wine.

The New Yorker

Mr Osborne was criticised for mentioning the NHS only once, in a passing comment.

Independent

The opening brief of 1-800 makes a passing comment that Lens.com was also in a partnership with its affiliates.

Harvard University

After brief introductions, he made a passing comment about the age-old conflict between our countries over the Nile.

The Guardian - Opinion

A trigger can be a line in a book, a passing comment, even a tweet — and then the worry spirals.

The Washington Post

He makes a passing comment about how it'd be good "if some of the boys were here".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

I realize it was just a tiny passing comment in the podcast, but felt it important to clarify/point this out in a culture that has idealized the extrovert style and under-valued the introvert in recent years.

University of California, Berkeley

Another editor, at a newspaper, made this passing comment: "It would be so much easier to get you on our pages if you weren't a white guy over 40".

The New York Times

From my passing comment to a passionate friend of the bears to a local advocacy organization and an international team of specialist surgeons, to one miracle bear and a story that has inspired so many.

Huffington Post

The minimal impact that rationing had on American eating habits is revealed by the passing comment of a woman from New York, who noted that coffee rationing, which cut consumption from three cups to one a day, was 'the wartime measure to have affected one the most'.

Huffington Post

The project originated in a passing Twitter comment by the critic and musicologist William Robin, who, back in December, made the boldly arguable claim that "Play," a kaleidoscopically churning forty-five-minute score by the young Los Angeles-based composer Andrew Norman, "might be the best orchestral work that the twenty-first century has seen thus far".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "a passing comment" to introduce a topic that you don't intend to explore in depth, signaling to your audience that you'll only touch on it briefly.

Common error

Avoid dwelling on or analyzing "a passing comment" as if it were a central point; doing so can mislead your audience about its importance and disrupt the flow of your narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passing comment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb (e.g., "made a passing comment") or the subject of a clause. Ludwig examples show it describing remarks made briefly or casually.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

12%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a passing comment" is a common phrase used to describe a brief and casual remark, often made without much thought or intention. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and best used when you want to downplay the importance of a statement. It appears most frequently in news and media sources, with notable presence in academic and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful not to overemphasize the remark, as it's meant to be a minor point. Alternatives like "a brief remark" or "a casual observation" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief remark

Focuses on the conciseness of the comment.

a casual observation

Highlights the informal nature of the comment.

a quick mention

Emphasizes the speed with which the comment was made.

a fleeting remark

Stresses the short duration and insignificance of the comment.

an offhand comment

Suggests the comment was made without much forethought.

a tossed-off remark

Implies the comment was made casually and perhaps carelessly.

an incidental comment

Indicates the comment was not the main point of the conversation.

a parenthetical remark

Compares the comment to information included parenthetically, as it's an aside to the main topic.

a side comment

Suggests the comment was made in addition to the main topic.

a trivial comment

Underlines the minor importance of the comment.

FAQs

How can I use "a passing comment" in a sentence?

You can use "a passing comment" to refer to something mentioned briefly and casually, like, "He made "a passing comment" about the weather before moving on to the main topic".

What's a good alternative to "a passing comment"?

Alternatives include "a brief remark", "a casual observation", or "a quick mention", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "a passing comment" and "an offhand comment"?

"A passing comment" generally refers to the brevity and casual nature of the remark. "An offhand comment" implies the remark was made without much thought or consideration, possibly even carelessly.

When is it appropriate to use "a passing comment" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to indicate that a remark is not central to the discussion and should not be given undue weight. Avoid using it when the remark is actually significant or requires further exploration.