are sailing with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are sailing with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone is traveling by boat or ship alongside others, or metaphorically, to indicate collaboration or partnership. Example: "We are sailing with our friends on the lake this weekend, enjoying the beautiful weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In Pullman cars the upper berths are occuped, ships are sailing with full passenger lists.

The New Yorker

Industry executives say that is enough time, because ships are cleaned continuously while they are sailing, with 30 to 40 people constantly cleaning.

The New York Times

The central ticket office of the ferry company you are sailing with may also be willing to look after your bag.

The Guardian - Travel

There is no accommodation for them, the ships are sailing with a minimum amount of food and there are not enough life-saving appliances".

BBC

If it does, you are sailing with the boom on the windward side (sailing by the lee) and are at high risk of an accidental jibe.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"I'm sailing with Peter Willcox".

The Guardian

He recalled that, the previous Saturday, he had been sailing with Piano on the Italian Riviera.

The New Yorker

"I was very happy and very proud to be sailing with him," de Kersauson said.

The New York Times - Sports

I've been sailing with my dad since I was a boy".

The Guardian

I had been sailing with my brother on the Promise, his 49-foot Taswell sloop.

The New York Times

"How the f*** did I end up here?" *** Frank Hewetson has been sailing with Greenpeace for two decades.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are sailing with", ensure the context clearly indicates a journey by water or a metaphorical partnership. Avoid ambiguity by providing specific details about the vessel or the nature of the collaboration.

Common error

Avoid using "are sailing with" in contexts where the collaborative aspect is unclear or forced. Overusing the metaphor can dilute its impact and confuse your audience.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "are sailing with" is to act as a verb phrase indicating an action in progress. The auxiliary verb "are" combines with the present participle "sailing" to form the present continuous tense, while "with" introduces an object or companion. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are sailing with" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe either literal maritime travel in company or metaphorical collaboration. Its register is generally neutral, finding frequent use in news and media, with occasional appearances in more formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the intended meaning, whether it's a voyage on water or a partnership in a venture. Be mindful of overusing the sailing metaphor to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are voyaging with

Replaces "sailing" with "voyaging", emphasizing a longer or more significant journey.

are cruising with

Substitutes "sailing" with "cruising", highlighting a leisurely or recreational journey.

are traveling with

Uses "traveling" instead of "sailing", broadening the context to any mode of transportation.

are journeying with

Replaces "sailing" with "journeying", suggesting a more profound or meaningful trip.

are navigating with

Emphasizes the act of guiding or directing alongside someone.

are accompanying

Focuses on the act of going along with someone, removing the maritime aspect.

are partnering with

Shifts the meaning towards collaboration or cooperation, metaphorically linking to the idea of sailing together.

are going along with

Simplifies the phrase to indicate agreement or participation.

are moving with

Generalizes the action to any kind of movement, losing the specific context of sailing.

are progressing with

Focuses on making headway alongside others, abstracting away from physical travel.

FAQs

How can I use "are sailing with" in a sentence?

You can use "are sailing with" to describe physically sailing alongside someone, as in "We are sailing with friends this weekend". It can also be used metaphorically to mean collaborating or partnering with someone, such as "The company is sailing with a new marketing strategy".

What are some alternatives to "are sailing with"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "are traveling with", "are journeying with", or "are partnering with".

Is "are sailing with" formal or informal?

The formality of "are sailing with" depends on the context. In a literal sense, it's neutral. When used metaphorically, it can range from neutral to slightly informal. Avoid in strictly formal contexts.

What does it mean to say someone is "sailing with" an idea?

Metaphorically, "sailing with" an idea means that someone is embracing, supporting, or moving forward with that idea, often in collaboration with others. It suggests a shared direction or purpose.