acknowledging

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "acknowledging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express recognition or acceptance of something, often in a formal or respectful context. Example: "In the meeting, she was acknowledging the contributions of her team members to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for 'up!', found me and a lazy dog blocking his way.

The Guardian

It calls on the new government to fully fund council tax support, acknowledging that the scheme costs the councils millions of pounds and has increased the cost of living for some of the poorest.

The Guardian

Lamb has made no attempt to hide his anger at the slow progress, acknowledging the programme has proved an abject failure and describing it in an interview with the Health Service Journal as "utterly hopeless" and his "most depressing and frustrating task".

The Guardian

The Football Association expects a crowd of around 40,000 for the game against Norway, ranked 53 in the world and in a similar state of transition to the hosts, with captain and manager acknowledging that the fans' faith must be restored after the summer's setbacks in Manaus, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.

The Guardian - Sport

Patrick O'Flynn has resigned as economics spokesman, acknowledging that it was really unhelpful to have described his leader as "snarling, thin-skinned and aggressive".

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite occasionally acknowledging that some academics might be women, his comments betrayed his assumption that academics are male, for apparently their default uniform comprises trousers, a jacket, a shirt and a tie.

The Guardian

Samuel Beckett, thanks to the line containing the words "fail better", is enjoying a new and unlikely half-life among captains of industry, tennis players and motivators (amusingly, Richard Branson, acknowledging the quote's primary authorship, said "from the playwright, Samuel Beckett, but it could just as easily come from the mouth of yours truly").

The Guardian - Books

"In that regard, and acknowledging that it is a baby step, I conclude that the EU's right to be forgotten is both appropriate and advantageous though it does not go far enough".

The Guardian - Tech

"The importance of counting the dead and retrieving their bodies is universally acknowledged as a crucial step in acknowledging their loss and producing an account of their deaths," it says.

The Guardian

Related: Climate-sceptic US senator given funds by BP political action committee Among the potential candidates expected to announce their intentions beginning in an April wave, only Kentucky senator Rand Paul and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham have bucked their party by acknowledging that climate change is real.

The Guardian

A senior member of the order made a submission to the inquiry acknowledging that an individual sister or common staff member, having worked long hours with children from troubled backgrounds, may have lost her temper and acted inappropriately.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acknowledging" when you want to formally recognize or accept a fact, situation, or someone's contribution. It adds a layer of respect and consideration to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "acknowledging" in very casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "noticing" or "realizing" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Acknowledging functions primarily as a present participle or gerund form of the verb "acknowledge". As shown by Ludwig, it is used to describe the action of recognizing or accepting something, often introducing a clause that expresses awareness or consideration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acknowledging" is a very common verb form used to express recognition or acceptance, often in formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discourse. While versatile, it's best to avoid it in overly casual settings, opting for simpler synonyms. When used appropriately, "acknowledging" adds a layer of formality and respect to your communication, signaling an informed and considerate perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recognizing

Changes the verb form while maintaining the core meaning of noticing and accepting something.

admitting

Implies conceding to something, often reluctantly, adding a nuance of acceptance under pressure.

conceding

Similar to admitting, but often used in more formal or argumentative contexts.

accepting

Focuses on the act of taking something as valid or true.

understanding

Highlights the comprehension aspect of acknowledging something.

realizing

Emphasizes the moment of becoming aware of something.

being aware of

Replaces the single verb with a phrase that emphasizes knowledge or consciousness of something.

taking notice of

Implies paying attention to something, often as a precursor to acknowledgement.

attending to

Similar to 'taking notice of', but suggests a more active engagement.

taking into account

Highlights considering something as part of a broader evaluation or decision-making process.

FAQs

What does "acknowledging" mean?

"Acknowledging" means recognizing or accepting the existence or truth of something. It often implies a formal or conscious awareness.

How can I use "acknowledging" in a sentence?

You can use "acknowledging" to introduce a fact that is being recognized, such as, "Acknowledging the challenges, we will proceed with caution."

What are some alternatives to "acknowledging"?

You can use alternatives like "recognizing", "admitting", or "understanding" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "acknowledging" instead of "recognizing"?

"Acknowledging" often implies a more formal or official recognition compared to "recognizing", which can be more general. Use "acknowledging" when the context warrants a formal tone.