activity was picking up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "activity was picking up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation where a certain activity is increasing or gaining more attention. For example, "As the holiday season began, activity at the mall was picking up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The concerns in health care were offset somewhat by signs that merger and acquisition activity was picking up.

The New York Times

Businesses said that new orders were coming in and business activity was picking up, though they were still cutting jobs and worried about overstocked shelves.

The New York Times

He added that while there had been some encouraging signs that construction activity was picking up, the pace of homebuilding was far below most estimates of what would be required to keep up with household formation in the years ahead.

The Guardian - Money

But the US Commerce Department said there were signs that activity was picking up in the second quarter.

BBC

Most Japanese investors, however, were undaunted by the report, choosing instead to focus on statements by the Fed that said U.S. economic activity was picking up.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Business surveys suggest activity is picking up.

The Economist

"There are positive signs that activity is picking up across the economy".

The Guardian - Business

Retail sales and manufacturing data suggest that while activity is picking up, the pace remains modest.

The Guardian - Business

Business investment climbed modestly, and manufacturing activity is picking up as well.

The New York Times

Activity is picking up, mostly in markets where dizzying price rises have made staying on prime sites hard to justify.

The Economist

Economists are divided over how much more QE is on the horizon, especially following tentative signs last week that economic activity is picking up.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "activity was picking up", ensure the context clearly identifies what specific activity is increasing. For example, specify "economic activity", "construction activity", or "market activity" to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "activity was picking up" without specifying the type of activity. Vague statements lack impact and can confuse the reader. Instead of saying "activity was picking up", specify what kind of "economic activity", "construction activity" or "market activity" is growing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "activity was picking up" functions as a descriptive expression. It portrays a situation where a particular action or operation is increasing or gaining momentum. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "activity was picking up" effectively describes an increase or resurgence in a specific area. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While relatively rare, its usage spans news, business, and scientific domains, indicating its broad applicability. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to specify the type of activity involved. Alternatives like "activity was increasing" or "activity was on the rise" offer similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

activity was increasing

Replaces "picking up" with a more direct synonym, "increasing", focusing on the rise in activity.

activity was on the rise

Uses the idiomatic expression "on the rise" to convey the sense of increasing activity.

activity was gaining momentum

Emphasizes the growing speed and force of the increasing activity.

activity was gathering pace

Similar to gaining momentum, highlights the acceleration of activity.

activity was intensifying

Suggests that the activity was becoming more concentrated or stronger.

activity was accelerating

Focuses on the faster rate at which the activity was increasing.

there was a surge in activity

Rephrases to emphasize a sudden and significant increase in activity.

activity showed signs of recovery

Implies that the increasing activity was a return to a previous state, especially after a decline.

activity began to recover

Highlights the start of the recovery of the activity.

activity commenced to flourish

Replaces the expression to indicate a high grade of improvement.

FAQs

What does "activity was picking up" mean?

The phrase "activity was picking up" suggests that a certain type of action or business is increasing, or starting to improve after a period of slowdown. It implies a positive trend or resurgence.

How can I use "activity was picking up" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe growth or improvement in a specific sector. For example, "After the initial slump, "market activity" was picking up as consumer confidence returned."

What are some alternatives to saying "activity was picking up"?

Alternatives include "activity was increasing", "activity was on the rise", or "activity was gaining momentum", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "activity is picking up" grammatically different from "activity was picking up"?

Yes, "activity is picking up" uses the present continuous tense, indicating that the increase is currently happening. "Activity was picking up" uses the past continuous tense, indicating the increase was happening at some point in the past.