at rioting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at rioting" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe participation in a riot, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The police arrived just as the crowd was at rioting, trying to control the situation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I consoled myself by circling the greenhouses and peeking through the smeared windows at rioting fronds of bamboo and palm.

The New York Times - Travel

Bulgarian police fired water cannon and rubber bullets at rioting migrants angered at being confined to their refugee camp during a health scare, the interior ministry said.

The Guardian

KAMPALA, Uganda — Army troops and police fired live bullets at rioting demonstrators Friday, and at least two people were killed and 120 wounded in the largest anti-government protest in sub-Saharan Africa this year.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Some threw stones at riot police.

The Economist

Protesters in Nasiriya, south of Baghdad, threw stones at riot police.

The Economist

Protesters hurled fire bombs and rocks at riot police as they were encircled.

Independent

A smaller crowd confronted police, with one shouting at riot police: "We are not violent.

Independent

Some protesters broke into buildings and threw stones at riot police officers.

The New York Times

11.00pm BST Student demonstrators throw stones at riot policemen during a protest in Bogota.

The Guardian

Protesters hurled fire bombs at riot police who responded with tear gas, officers said.

The Guardian

Irish football fans waved them at riot police in Poznan during Euro 2012.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "at rioting" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "participating in riots" or "during the riots" to convey your intended meaning.

Common error

Using "at rioting" can sound unnatural to native English speakers. Ensure clarity by using more common prepositions like 'in' or rephrasing to use a temporal clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at rioting" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. However, its usage is grammatically questionable, as highlighted by Ludwig AI, rendering it an unconventional and potentially confusing construction. This makes its grammatical function less clear compared to more standard phrases.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at rioting" is grammatically dubious and seldom used, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While its intended meaning aims to describe someone's presence or involvement during a riot, the phrasing is awkward and may confuse the reader. It is best to avoid using "at rioting" and instead opt for clearer alternatives such as "participating in riots" or "during the riots". Despite surfacing primarily in news and media contexts, the phrase lacks sufficient grounding in standard English to recommend its usage. Use should be limited or avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

involved in rioting

Replaces 'at' with 'involved in' to clarify participation.

participating in riots

Uses 'participating' to emphasize active involvement.

taking part in riots

Similar to 'participating' but uses slightly different wording.

during the riots

Focuses on the time period when riots are occurring.

engaging in rioting

Highlights the action of rioting.

amidst the rioting

Implies being surrounded by the rioting activity.

in the midst of riots

Emphasizes being centrally located within the riots.

caught up in the rioting

Suggests being unwillingly involved.

present during the riots

Simply indicates presence at the time of the riots.

on the scene of the riots

Highlights location during the riots.

FAQs

What does "at rioting" mean?

The phrase "at rioting" is not standard English and is considered grammatically incorrect. It's likely intended to describe someone's involvement or presence during a riot, but it's not a natural or clear way to express that idea.

How can I use "at rioting" in a sentence correctly?

It's best to avoid using "at rioting" altogether. Instead, use phrases like "participating in riots", "during the riots", or "involved in rioting" to express the intended meaning clearly.

Which is correct: "at rioting" or "during the riots"?

"During the riots" is the correct and more natural phrasing. "At rioting" is grammatically awkward and not commonly used.

What are some alternatives to "at rioting"?

Better alternatives include "in the midst of riots", "amidst the rioting", or simply "at the riots" (although the latter might still sound slightly awkward depending on the context).