as they accelerate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as they accelerate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or changes that occur simultaneously with an increase in speed or intensity. Example: "The cars began to drift apart as they accelerate down the straightaway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Musical reshuffling and cheap digital tools are phenomena that intertwine as they accelerate.

The New York Times - Tech

The dancers begin in silence and as they accelerate, the opening waltz breaks the circle apart with centrifugal force.

The New York Times - Arts

Writing in Biology Letters, researchers explain that the whales sometimes roll 180 degrees, so their backs face the seafloor as they accelerate and move forward to open their mouths for a lunge.

The New York Times - Science

And as they accelerate away from the scene of the crime, the timid driver of the getaway car refuses to exceed the 20mph speed restriction, screaming: "IT'S A LIMIT – NOT A TARGET!" The relationship between Susan and Julie feels a little thin at first, until a revelation in the final third allows Niven to tug the heartstrings to breaking point.

Independent

Much like parents who profess to hate the academic arms race created by test preparation and tutoring even as they accelerate it, students profess to disdain the qualities that are part of the culture of any competitive public or private school (ambition, for example).

The New York Times

We are looking forward to working with them as they accelerate the expansion of their business.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The visual and the aural converged as the performers played an extravagant form of patty-cake as they accelerated their rhythmic changes.

The New York Times - Arts

PayPal was also good for eBay, as they accelerated the velocity of transactions by speeding up the payment cycle, so eBay acquired PayPal.

TechCrunch

Tectonic plates move slowly but not imperceptibly at inches per year, about as fast as our fingernails grow and they accelerate to feet per second during earthquakes.

The New Yorker

Mutator phenotypes should therefore be thought of as carcinogenic because they accelerate mutation production during tumorigenesis.

British Journal of Cancer

Tectonic plates move slowly but not imperceptibly — at inches per year, about as fast as our fingernails grow — and they accelerate to feet per second during earthquakes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as they accelerate" to describe simultaneous actions that occur with increasing speed or intensity. For example, "The music became more intense as they accelerate the tempo."

Common error

Avoid using "as they accelerate" when the context doesn't involve a literal or figurative increase in speed. Ensure the subject is capable of acceleration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as they accelerate" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying the main clause by indicating the time or condition under which an action occurs. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as they accelerate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that functions as an adverbial clause. It is used to describe simultaneous events that coincide with an increase in speed or intensity. According to Ludwig's analysis, the phrase is common in News & Media and Scientific contexts, with neutral register and high source quality. The examples curated by Ludwig showcase its versatility in various situations. Remember to avoid using it in contexts that do not involve actual or metaphorical acceleration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while they gain momentum

Changes the focus to gaining momentum, implying an increase in speed and force.

as their speed increases

Replaces "accelerate" with a more explicit description of increasing speed.

as they pick up speed

Uses a more informal idiom to convey the same meaning of increasing velocity.

while they are speeding up

Emphasizes the action of speeding up, providing a clearer and more active voice.

as they gather pace

Employs "gather pace" to signify increasing speed gradually.

as their velocity increases

Replaces "accelerate" with a more formal term, "velocity", suitable for scientific contexts.

as they move faster

Offers a simple and direct way of expressing increased speed.

while their rate increases

Focuses on the increasing rate of change, suitable for describing processes or events.

as they ramp up

Uses "ramp up" to suggest a gradual increase in intensity or activity.

as they surge forward

Implies a sudden and powerful increase in speed or force.

FAQs

How can I use "as they accelerate" in a sentence?

Use "as they accelerate" to describe actions or changes that happen simultaneously with an increase in speed or intensity. For example, "The engine roared "as they accelerate" down the runway".

What are some alternatives to "as they accelerate"?

You can use alternatives like "while they gain momentum", "as their speed increases", or "as they pick up speed", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as they accelerated" instead of "as they accelerate"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "as they accelerated" refers to a past action, while "as they accelerate" describes a present or ongoing action.

What is the difference between "as they accelerate" and "while they accelerate"?

"As they accelerate" emphasizes the simultaneous nature of the action and its consequence. "While they accelerate" simply indicates that the two actions occur during the same time period.