canvassing

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "canvassing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of soliciting opinions or votes, often in a political context. Example: "The volunteers are canvassing the neighborhood to gather support for the candidate." Alternative expressions include "soliciting opinions" and "gathering feedback."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And much of the canvassing data was as duff as the opinion polls turned out to be.

The Guardian - Opinion

The 18-year-old said his Scholarism group was planning demonstrations on Saturday in areas where government officials would be canvassing for support, the Associated Press reported.

The Guardian

Cameron says, if Miliband thinks this is important, he should have met them, rather than go canvassing.

The Guardian

"You try and build up your support to crescendo on polling day and make sure your vote turns out," he says, adding that he enjoys the team spirit of canvassing but is suffering from a case of "candidate-itis".

The Guardian

Three-quarters of voters in Milton Keynes South say they have been contacted by Labour – by leaflet, a phone call or a canvassing visit – compared with 43% for the Tories.

The Guardian

It's mid-February, and Lucas is canvassing in Brighton.

The Guardian

In its efforts to better profile wavering voters, Yes Scotland asks people to put themselves on a scale of 1 to 10 on a white canvassing card to show how opposed or supportive they are to independence.

The Guardian

Later on, Huntman arrives in his purple and yellow branded Smart car at a supermarket to join some of the 30 Ukip activists canvassing locally, including more than a dozen members of Ukip's youth wing staying in the constituency as part of an East Coast Action Weekend, as well as the party's candidates from Edinburgh South and Camberwell and Peckham.

The Guardian

It has published election demands based on the opinions of more than 18,000 readers as part of what it calls a My Manifesto project.* The demands have been drawn up by canvassing the readers of 24 titles, including the Manchester Evening News (MEN), Liverpool Echo, Newcastle Chronicle and Birmingham Mail.

The Guardian

Gove, who has been canvassing opinion among Tory MPs, indicated that the prime minister is heeding the concerns of Perry and scores of backbenches.

The Guardian

Even MPs like Nick Boles are so worried who will lead us through the Putin threat that they've started indiscriminately canvassing Twitter for opinions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "canvassing" in your writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to political campaigning, market research, or another form of outreach. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "canvassing" when a more precise term like "surveying", "interviewing", or "campaigning" would better reflect the specific activity. "Canvassing" implies a broad approach, so choose a more tailored term when detailing a focused effort.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "canvassing" is often as a present participle or gerund, functioning as a verb or a noun depending on the sentence structure. The examples provided by Ludwig show it used to describe the act of seeking votes or opinions, aligning with its definition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "canvassing" is a versatile term primarily used to describe organized efforts to gather support or information, frequently observed in political and research settings. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and common, particularly in News & Media. When writing, ensure that the specific activity being described aligns with the broad implications of "canvassing" to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "soliciting opinions" or "gathering feedback" may offer more precision in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soliciting opinions

Focuses on the act of actively seeking viewpoints from others.

gathering feedback

Emphasizes collecting input and responses from a group.

polling voters

Specifically refers to surveying voters to gauge their preferences.

campaigning for votes

Highlights the active promotion of a candidate or cause to gain support.

seeking support

A more general term for trying to obtain backing or approval.

surveying public opinion

Formal way to express the process of measuring public attitudes.

door-to-door campaigning

Specifies a method of canvassing that involves visiting people's homes.

electioneering

A formal term for participating actively in an election campaign.

drumming up support

Suggests energetic efforts to build enthusiasm and backing.

lobbing

Trying to influence politicians on an issue.

FAQs

How is "canvassing" typically used in political contexts?

In political contexts, "canvassing" usually refers to the activity of going door-to-door or contacting people to solicit votes or gather information about voter preferences. It's a key part of "campaigning for votes".

What's the difference between "canvassing" and "polling voters"?

"Canvassing" involves direct interaction to influence or gather broad opinions, while "polling voters" focuses on collecting structured data through surveys to measure public opinion more quantitatively.

What are some alternatives to "canvassing" in a business setting?

In a business context, instead of "canvassing", you might use phrases like "soliciting opinions", "gathering feedback", or conducting market research to understand customer needs and preferences.

Is "canvassing" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "canvassing" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing political or research activities. However, consider whether a more specific term might be more precise, depending on the context. For example, "surveying public opinion" may be better.