agitating it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agitating it" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to stirring, disturbing, or causing a reaction in something, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The scientist was agitating it to observe the chemical reaction more clearly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wine making

Scientific experiments

Food preparation

Shark attacks prevention

Laundry

Homebrewing

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Aerating the wine by agitating it can soften the flavor, McGee writes, but oxygen reacts with compounds in the wine very slowly.

MIT Technology Review

After this is skimmed off, more copper and other impurities are brought to the surface by stirring sulfur and lead pyrite into the bath or by agitating it with submerged air lances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Include citrus wheels or other punch-appropriate fruits and garnishes in the container and then fill it with water, agitating it as you go to eliminate as much trapped air as possible from around the solids before freezing.

The Washington Post

The contents of the flask were dispersed by agitating it in a shaking water bath for 30 min and then left over night to collect the released Camellia sinensis leaf extract.

International Nano Letters

He said he blames the fisherman who had hooked the shark and kept it on the line for 40 minutes before the attack, probably agitating it.

Los Angeles Times

The blood was eluted out in phosphate-buffered saline containing 0.05% Tween 80 and 0.005% sodium azide, agitating it overnight at 2°C 8°C (refrigerator) for a minimum of 16 hours.

HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"I mean, you have to agitate it a bit".

The New York Times

And if he was agitated, it was probably because he got tired of being questioned".

The New York Times - Arts

He had a terrible speech impediment, and when he was agitated, it was really hard to understand him.

The New York Times

If they were agitated, it was because they were wild birds which were not used to being disturbed by people.

The Guardian

Veronica Gonzalez Peña does not write absence as a form of lack, her absence froths and grows agitated, it fills up the page with pulsing need.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "agitating it" when you want to emphasize a continuous, sometimes forceful, movement that causes a change or reaction. For example, "Agitating it regularly will ensure the compost tea is properly aerated."

Common error

While "agitating it" is grammatically correct, it can sound informal or even aggressive in certain professional or academic contexts. Consider more precise alternatives like "stirring it", "mixing it", or "shaking it" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

Gerund phrases like "agitating it" often function as nouns, serving as subjects, objects, or complements within a sentence. They describe an action being performed, as seen in Ludwig's examples such as 'Aerating the wine by agitating it can soften the flavor' or '...dispersed by agitating it in a shaking water bath'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

30%

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "agitating it" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase that describes the action of stirring or shaking something, often to cause a reaction or change. According to Ludwig, while the phrase is valid and usable, it's important to consider the context. Although "agitating it" has some applications in scientific literature, its formality can be improved by employing alternative more sophisticated alternatives, such as "stirring it", depending on the setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stirring it

Focuses on the action of mixing something with a circular motion.

shaking it

Implies a more vigorous movement to mix or disturb something.

disturbing it

Highlights the act of interrupting a settled state.

mixing it

Emphasizes the blending of different components.

churning it

Suggests a forceful and repetitive stirring motion.

swirling it

Implies a gentle, circular movement.

jostling it

Suggests bumping or shaking something roughly.

tumbling it

Implies a rotating or rolling motion.

ruffling it

Suggests disturbing the surface or arrangement of something.

rippling it

Implies creating a series of small waves or disturbances.

FAQs

What does "agitating it" mean?

"Agitating it" means to disturb or excite something, often by shaking or stirring. It can also mean to provoke or disturb someone.

What can I say instead of "agitating it"?

You can use alternatives like "stirring it", "shaking it", or "mixing it" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "agitating it" in a formal setting?

While grammatically correct, "agitating it" might sound informal in some formal settings. Consider more precise and sophisticated alternatives.

How does "agitating it" differ from "stirring it"?

"Agitating it" often implies a more vigorous or disruptive action than "stirring it", which typically suggests a smoother, more controlled mixing motion.