as they fall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as they fall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe events or actions that occur simultaneously with something else, often in a metaphorical or literal sense. Example: "The leaves danced in the wind as they fall from the trees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dropsondes provide information only from specific points as they fall.

The New York Times - Science

Gravity accelerates spacecraft as they fall towards the sun.

The Economist

As they fall over laughing, one can hotfoot it away.

The Guardian

Leaves are swept away as soon as they fall.

The Guardian - Travel

As they fall off balance or whirl their bodies, their garments leave behind powdery clouds.

The New York Times - Arts

Ice crystals grow into snowflakes as they fall from the sky.

The New York Times - Science

(The sprites might technically need to be labeled attosatellites as they fall below that range).

The Economist

My lovers, Serena and Tom, shadow dance and deceive, even as they fall in love.

The Guardian - Books

Then as they fall away the light becomes softer and more natural.

The Guardian

He's re-elected by them as they fall with flayed off human flesh like hanging chads.

The Guardian

Dead leaves can infect healthy leaves by shedding spores as they fall to the ground.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as they fall" to describe events that happen simultaneously with a descent or decline, whether literal or metaphorical. For example, "Hopes dwindled as they fall behind in the polls."

Common error

Do not use "as they fall" to describe a state or condition without an element of movement or progression. It is incorrect to say "The books were dusty as they fall on the shelf" when "as they sat" or "as they remained" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as they fall" functions as a conjunction, connecting a clause describing a descending action with another simultaneous event or state. It's frequently used to illustrate a cause-and-effect relationship or a concurrent condition, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

37%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as they fall" is a grammatically sound and frequently used conjunction to describe concurrent events during a descent. Ludwig's analysis confirms its prevalence across news, scientific, and general writing contexts, indicating a neutral register. While versatile, it's important to use "as they fall" when there is actual movement involved and avoid using it for static situations. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "during their descent" or "while descending" to achieve similar semantic effects. The Ludwig AI confirms its general acceptance and multiple use cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while descending

Replaces "as they fall" with a focus on the action of coming down.

as they are dropping

Replaces "fall" with a more direct synonym, focusing on the action of dropping.

during their descent

Emphasizes the process of falling with a more formal tone.

when they plummet

Uses a stronger verb to emphasize a rapid fall.

in their fall

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the original meaning.

as they tumble down

Adds a sense of chaotic movement to the falling action.

during the drop

Simplifies the phrase by focusing on the single action of the drop.

whilst in freefall

A more technical term for the state of falling under gravity.

as gravity pulls them

Emphasizes the force causing the fall.

upon their falling

A more formal and slightly archaic way of expressing the same idea.

FAQs

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

Use "as they fall" to describe actions or states that occur concurrently with a descent. For example, "Meteoroids heat up and glow "as they fall" through Earth's atmosphere."

What phrases are similar to "as they fall"?

Alternatives include "during their descent", "while descending", or "when they plummet", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a more formal way to say "as they fall"?

For a more formal tone, consider using ""during their descent"" or "upon their falling."

Can "as they fall" be used metaphorically?

Yes, it can. For instance, you might say, "The company's profits decreased "as they fall" behind competitors in innovation" to describe a decline.