as they combat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as they combat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing actions taken by individuals or groups in opposition to something, such as a challenge or an enemy. Example: "The soldiers trained rigorously as they combat the threats posed by enemy forces."

✓ Grammatically correct

Computers in Human Behavior

The New York Times

The Economist

The Guardian

BBC

Huffington Post

Wikipedia

Vice

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The results have practical implications to user-oriented smartphone design and operation companies as well as government agencies as they combat the social ills brought on by smartphones.

Computers in Human Behavior

The cost-cutting fervor, including tens of thousands of Wall Street jobs slashed in recent years, is expected to continue at Citigroup and other banks as they combat sagging stock prices, lackluster revenue and new regulations that damp profits.

The New York Times

Many industries, according to a new survey by the Confederation of British Industry, have seen surprising co-operation between employers and their workers as they combat recession, agreeing flexible hours and wage freezes rather than redundancies.

The Economist

The recriminations in the aftermath of the al-Majalah raid underline the dilemmas facing the Yemeni government and its deeply unpopular western allies, as they combat the emerging terrorist threat in the country's east and south.

The Guardian

The experience prompted her to set up a counselling organisation, Families For Life, which aims to support families as they combat radicalisation.

BBC

Being with people as they combat this disease contributes to my commitment to health.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

History shows that churches imitate and partner with oppressive regimes as well as they boldly combat imperial injustices.

Huffington Post

What did they decide to do? Nothing, as far as combatting the epidemic they were creating.

HuffPost

It is an acute worry for allied commanders as they gather combat troops to uphold a settlement in the province.

The Economist

The Army's Public Health Command collects standardised medical-history surveys, known as post-deployment health assessments, which troops fill out as they complete combat tours, the newspaper reported.

The Guardian

And yes, this is war — it's an unsettling and savage clip, depicting protestors being beaten and pepper-sprayed as they mercilessly combat with the police, though the protestors-turned-rioters also inflict a large part of the violence: they destroy property, loot stores, and set fire to cars — and humans.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as they combat" when you want to describe actions taken simultaneously with facing a challenge or opposition. It is useful to connect the reason/scenario with an action taken by some actor.

Common error

While "as they combat" is grammatically sound, avoid using it in overly formal or academic writing where more precise or nuanced language might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "in their efforts to mitigate" or "while addressing" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as they combat" functions as a conjunction phrase, introducing a clause that describes an action taken in response to a challenge or opposition. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it connects the action with the situation being addressed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as they combat" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that serves as a conjunction, linking an action of opposition to a specific challenge. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s correct for describing simultaneous actions. While "as they combat" appears more frequently in news and media contexts, it’s less common in formal business or academic writing. Alternative phrases like "while they fight" or "as they battle" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Remember to avoid overuse in overly formal contexts for the best effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as they battle

Replaces "combat" with "battle", offering a synonymous term with a slightly different connotation, often implying a more intense or prolonged conflict.

while they fight

Replaces "as" with "while" and uses the simple present "fight", focusing on the action itself without necessarily implying a cause and effect. This is a subtle change to the emphasis on time.

while they are fighting

Replaces "as" with "while" and uses the continuous tense "are fighting", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the action. This changes the temporal focus slightly.

as they counter

Replaces "combat" with "counter", focusing on the act of opposing or negating something.

as they confront

Replaces "combat" with "confront", which focuses on facing a challenge directly, but not necessarily fighting it. It suggests a more direct and assertive approach.

as they wrestle with

Replaces "combat" with "wrestle with", indicating a more difficult or contested action.

as they grapple with

Replaces "combat" with "grapple with", suggesting a close and perhaps uncertain struggle.

as they resist

Replaces "combat" with "resist", emphasizing the act of opposing or withstanding something.

as they oppose

Replaces "combat" with "oppose", focusing on direct opposition or disagreement.

while they address

Uses "address" instead of "combat", changing the meaning to indicate dealing with a problem or issue.

FAQs

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

Use "as they combat" to show simultaneous action against a challenge. For example, "The government introduced new policies as they combat rising inflation."

What can I say instead of "as they combat"?

You can use alternatives like "while they fight", "as they struggle against", or "as they battle" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "as they combat" or "while they combat"?

Both "as they combat" and "while they combat" are grammatically correct, but "as" implies a stronger causal or simultaneous relationship, while "while" primarily indicates timing.

What's the difference between "as they combat" and "as they confront"?

"As they combat" implies active opposition or fighting, while "as they confront" suggests facing a challenge directly, but not necessarily fighting it. The former is more adversarial.