at a walking pace

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a walking pace" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a speed that is equivalent to walking, often in contexts related to travel, exercise, or movement. Example: "We decided to explore the park at a walking pace to fully enjoy the scenery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

These quirks are an impressive sight even after crossing the Sandhills at 65 miles an hour, and one can only imagine the utter thrill of spotting them when traveling for days at a walking pace.

The New York Times - Travel

Then a second and lighter artillery barrage would begin to creep forward over the Allied trenches at a walking pace (in order to keep the enemy under fire), with the masses of German assault infantry advancing as closely as possible behind it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The car, wearing a pearlescent shade of orange called Tangerine, ambled at a walking pace.

BBC

Only 66 of all pedestrians going to catch a train appeared to hurry while crossing, while the remaining more than a quarter crossed at a walking pace.

Urban Rail Transit

Hazard's creativity and Hudson-Odoi's dynamism would have been useful for Chelsea in a sterile start to the game, as they dominated possession but at a walking pace.

BBC

Even with this many animals pulling, they still moved at a walking pace.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

As the company notes, the electric system is the size of a beach cooler and cruises along at roughly a walking pace.

TechCrunch

Rosetta touched down on the "head" of the comet at a speed of about 90 centimetres per second - around a walking pace.

The Guardian

In the experiments, the experimenter moves at a typical walking pace on a predefined path at a normal walking speed of 1.2 m/s.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The truth is it sounds like a combination of things layered together at a decent walking pace, with a finale track at the end for the walk out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Brought outside, it rolled along at a consistent walking pace, following a white line.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at a walking pace" to clearly indicate a speed equivalent to that of someone walking, ensuring the audience understands the rate of movement or progress you're describing.

Common error

While "at a walking pace" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "at a low velocity" or "at a reduced speed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a walking pace" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause, indicating the speed or manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at a walking pace" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase used to describe a speed comparable to that of a person walking. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is widespread across various contexts, including news, science and general writing. While versatile, it's best to consider the context and opt for more precise or formal alternatives when necessary. Remember to use "at a walking pace" to precisely convey the intended slow speed in a wide range of situations, but also to consider alternatives based on the desired tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at an ambling speed

Replaces "walking pace" with "ambling speed", suggesting a relaxed and unhurried movement.

at a strolling rate

Substitutes "walking pace" with "strolling rate", emphasizing a leisurely and casual movement.

at a slow gait

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise description of slow movement.

at a moderate speed

Uses a more general term "moderate speed" to indicate a pace that is not too fast or slow.

at a gentle pace

Emphasizes the ease and smoothness of the movement.

at a snail's pace

Uses a figurative expression to describe extremely slow movement.

at a creeping rate

Suggests a very slow, almost imperceptible movement.

at a reduced velocity

Replaces "pace" with the more formal term "velocity", suitable for technical contexts.

at a low speed

Uses a straightforward description of the speed.

at a leisurely clip

Replaces "walking pace" with "leisurely clip", conveying a relaxed and unhurried tempo.

FAQs

How can I use "at a walking pace" in a sentence?

You can use "at a walking pace" to describe movement or progress. For example, "The robot moved "at a walking pace" across the room" or "The investigation proceeded "at a walking pace" due to lack of evidence".

What are some alternatives to "at a walking pace"?

Alternatives include "at an ambling speed", "at a strolling rate", or "at a slow gait", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "at walking pace" instead of "at a walking pace"?

While understandable, "at walking pace" is less common and grammatically weaker than "at a walking pace". The inclusion of the article "a" makes the phrase more natural and grammatically standard.

When is it more appropriate to use "at a slow speed" instead of "at a walking pace"?

"At a slow speed" is generally more appropriate when referring to mechanical or non-human movement, while "at a walking pace" specifically implies a speed comparable to human walking. Therefore, "at a slow speed" is more generic.