by not adding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by not adding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the action of omitting something in a process or decision-making context. Example: "The recipe improves the flavor by not adding any salt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

"They create tension by not adding tension.

The New York Times - Arts

And by not adding water, the syrup would be thick and clingy instead of diluted.

The New York Times - Food

In an Aug. 13 news article, it is suggested that Purdue Pharma acted irresponsibly by not adding a blocking agent to OxyContin to curb its abuse.

The New York Times

We seeded primary neurons in the absence or presence of an ECM coating (bECM or MaxGel) and permitted the growth of glial cells by not adding anti-mitotic agents or serum in the cell culture media.

Nature

So, this year we decided to try and reduce the fertility of the borders and the Jewel Garden in particular by not adding the customary blanket of weed-suppressing goodness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By not adding guns (in the US) to your list of "ready weapons" you are failing to inoculate this piece against accusations of selective/biased narrative of what constitutes terroristic violence, and thereby distracting us from closer consideration of your Rand Corp.-sponsored argument.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

By expanding, not adding toit? A. No, not adding to.

Cornell University

By deliberately not adding context, we tried to prevent that respondents would only refer to one particular situation or part of their work.

BMC Medical Education

By varying the connection stiffness using an eccentric wheel excitation system and by adding or not adding the circular ring, eight cases were investigated and eight sets of FRFs were measured.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Part of the scatter is likely caused by the bond valences not adding up exactly to 3.0.

Chemical Reviews

McDonald's only path to growth is by increasing in-store sales, not adding more locations.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing instructions or explaining a process, use "by not adding" to clearly specify what should be omitted to achieve a desired outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "by not adding" in overly passive constructions. Instead of "The problem was solved by not adding more variables", try "We solved the problem by not adding more variables" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by not adding" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating a method or means of achieving a result through omission. Ludwig shows that it is often used to describe how to improve something, solve a problem, or avoid a negative consequence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

8%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by not adding" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies achieving a desired outcome through omission. According to Ludwig, it is commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. The phrase has a neutral register and serves to clarify a deliberate action of not including something. To enhance clarity, consider direct phrasing and avoid excessive passive voice. Remember to focus on precise, omission-driven descriptions for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by excluding

Replaces "not adding" with a single verb expressing exclusion.

without including

Uses "without" to indicate absence and "including" to replace "adding".

by leaving out

Uses the phrasal verb "leaving out" instead of "not adding".

through omission

Changes the preposition and uses a noun instead of a verb phrase.

by refraining from adding

Adds "refraining from" to emphasize deliberate avoidance.

by foregoing

Replaces the entire phrase with a single verb that implies omission.

by skipping the addition of

Highlights the action of skipping a step or component.

by the absence of addition

Nominalizes the phrase, focusing on the lack of addition.

by discounting

Implies that something was considered but ultimately not added.

through non-inclusion

Uses a more formal and abstract noun phrase.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "by not adding" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases such as "through omission", "by excluding", or "through non-inclusion". These options provide a similar meaning while maintaining a more sophisticated style.

What does "by not adding" imply in a set of instructions?

In instructions, "by not adding" indicates that a specific ingredient, step, or component should be deliberately left out to achieve the desired result. It emphasizes the importance of omission as part of the process.

Is there a difference between "by not adding" and "without adding"?

While similar, "by not adding" emphasizes a conscious decision to omit something, whereas "without adding" is a more general statement of absence. For example, "improving flavor "by not adding" any salt" highlights a specific choice, while "improving flavor without adding any salt" simply notes the absence of salt.

When is it better to use a single verb instead of "by not adding"?

Using a single verb can be more concise. For instance, instead of "improving the dish by not adding sugar", you could say "improving the dish "by excluding" sugar" or "improving the dish "by omitting" sugar".