as it escalates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it escalates" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that is intensifying or becoming more serious over time. Example: "The conflict between the two parties became increasingly concerning as it escalates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The Obama administration should keep this in mind as it escalates its war of words with the court.

The New York Times

It does seem incredulous that Republican candidates, full of righteous pontifications have handed the largest, most important voting bloc to the Democrats as it escalates its on-going war on women.

Huffington Post

The war, the paper began, "is becoming increasingly unpopular as it escalates — causing more American casualties, more fear of its growing into a wider war, more privation of the domestic sector, and more distress at the amount of suffering being visited on the noncombatants in Vietnam, South and North".

The New York Times

As it escalates, it is becoming a magnet for jihadists.

The Guardian

The hunt morphs into an all-out farce as it escalates to include bounty hunters, police and finally, the army.

The Guardian - Film

But as it escalates, his hands rise to his cheeks as if he were supplying himself with panicky blinkers.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Sri Lanka has been unable to contain its ethnic violence as it escalated from sporadic terrorism to mob violence, and finally to civil war.

Wikipedia

As it escalated, Ja Rule taunted DMX about drug use; DMX questioned Ja Rule's sexual orientation.

The New York Times

The wall came without warning, rising suddenly to more than fifteen feet, and, along with cars and refrigerators and cattle and jewelry, claimed a death toll that defied comprehension as it escalated through the week.

The New Yorker

Fryer said his interest in police shootings was motivated by outrage, but his inquiry was more specific: he wanted to see how racism contributed to police use of force, as it escalated.

The New Yorker

(In fact, the original thread about Amy's was taken down as it escalated to the level of being a "witch hunt" against the owners of Amy's). If someone mentions you or your business on Reddit, seriously consider whether you can and want to get involved in the discussion.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it escalates" to clearly indicate a gradual increase in intensity or severity of a situation. This phrase is effective in conveying a sense of growing urgency or importance.

Common error

Avoid using "as it escalates" when a situation is already at its peak or has reached a stable, high level of intensity. The phrase is most effective when describing a process of increasing severity over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it escalates" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when something else occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as it escalates" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial clause that describes a situation becoming more intense or severe over time. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and provides examples across various contexts. While not extremely common, its usage is appropriate for conveying a sense of growing urgency, primarily in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as it intensifies

Replaces "escalates" with a synonym indicating a gradual increase in intensity.

as it grows

Uses a more general term to describe the process of increasing in size or severity.

as it worsens

Focuses specifically on the negative aspect of the situation becoming more severe.

as it amplifies

Suggests an increase in magnitude or effect, often used in a more technical context.

as it heightens

Implies an increase in emotional intensity or tension.

as it unfolds

Shifts the focus to the gradual revealing of events as they progress.

as it develops

Emphasizes the gradual evolution or progression of the situation.

as it proceeds

Indicates the continuation of an action or event, with the implication of increasing intensity.

as it gathers momentum

Focuses on the increasing speed and force of the development.

as it picks up steam

An idiomatic expression indicating increasing energy and progress.

FAQs

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

You can use "as it escalates" to describe a situation that is gradually becoming more intense or serious. For example, "The conflict became increasingly concerning as it escalates."

What can I say instead of "as it escalates"?

You can use alternatives like "as it intensifies", "as it grows", or "as it worsens" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "as it escalates" or "as it is escalating"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "as it escalates" implies a general trend, while "as it is escalating" emphasizes an ongoing process. The best choice depends on the specific context and intended meaning.

What is the difference between "as it escalates" and "when it escalates"?

"As it escalates" describes a situation that is currently intensifying, whereas "when it escalates" refers to a future point in time when the situation reaches a higher level of intensity.