as it burned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it burned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action occurring simultaneously with something being burned, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "The forest was silent, as it burned, the flames consuming everything in their path."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In ten minutes, the fire circled the house, and he climbed up to the belvedere to track its progress as it burned to the ditches surrounding his tract, taking out the pump house and a tractor shed, and incinerating his Dodge, which burned hot and high, killing most of the foliage of the live oak shading it.

The New Yorker

It's what the spirit did as it inhabited the body, the impact it made as it burned through, the revelation of its essence through the murk of earthly existence, that I want to catch.Some motif, or some small incident, will usually provide the key.

The Economist

It is also true that its displacement of local people, who fled as it burned their villages and seized their resources, caused more deaths than the Interahamwe.

The Guardian

An hour later, the Fire Department was forced to abandon its last efforts to save the building as it burned like a giant torch.

The New York Times

"As it burned".

The New York Times - Magazine

If, as it burned, it smelled like garlic, the corpse was thought to contain arsenic.

The New Yorker

Nero set Rome on fire and stood by and fiddled as it burned.

The New York Times - Sports

An unoccupied caravan was set alight and two explosions were heard as it burned.

Independent

"Reflect, Chuang, on the nature of the fire as it burned before us last night.

Harvard Business Review

Trey Gregory was one of the first to run into the building as it burned.

The Washington Post

The theory explained combustion by assuming the existence of a hypothetical substance, phlogiston, that left a material as it burned.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as it burned", ensure the pronoun 'it' clearly refers to a specific noun to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "as it burned" when the subject being burned is unclear or has not been previously mentioned. This can lead to confusion and weaken the descriptive impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it burned" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when something occurred. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with multiple examples showing actions happening concurrently with the burning process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as it burned" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial clause that adds temporal context to a narrative. According to Ludwig AI, it vividly describes events occurring simultaneously with a fire or burning process. Predominantly found in news and media, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for diverse writing contexts. It is important to ensure the pronoun "it" refers to a clearly defined subject. For greater descriptiveness, consider alternatives such as "while it was burning" or "when it was ablaze".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while it was ablaze

This alternative replaces "burned" with "ablaze", emphasizing the state of being on fire.

as it was consumed by fire

This phrase highlights the process of being destroyed by fire, replacing "burned" with a more descriptive phrase.

when it was on fire

This alternative uses a simpler structure, focusing on the state of being on fire at a specific time.

during its incineration

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the complete burning or destruction by fire.

as the flames engulfed it

This alternative focuses on the action of the flames surrounding and consuming something.

while it underwent combustion

A more technical term, "combustion", replaces the simpler "burned".

as it turned to ash

This focuses on the end result of burning, the transformation into ash.

in the process of burning

This alternative uses a more generic phrasing to describe the act of burning.

as it was reduced to embers

This phrase highlights a specific stage of burning, when only embers remain.

during the conflagration

This is a more dramatic and formal way to describe a large, destructive fire.

FAQs

How can I use "as it burned" in a sentence?

You can use "as it burned" to describe a scene or event happening simultaneously with something being consumed by fire. For example, "The crowd watched in horror as the building burned.".

What are some alternatives to "as it burned"?

Some alternatives include "while it was burning", "during the burning", or "when it was ablaze", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "as it burned"?

Yes, "as it burned" is grammatically correct. The word "as" functions as a conjunction to show simultaneous action. It's important to ensure clarity by referencing a previously mentioned noun with the pronoun "it".

What's the difference between "as it burned" and "while it was burning"?

Both phrases indicate simultaneous actions. "As it burned" is more concise and can create a stronger sense of immediacy. "While it was burning" is slightly more descriptive, emphasizing the duration of the burning process.