carrying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "carrying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as describing the act of holding or transporting something. Example: "She was carrying a heavy bag filled with groceries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nasdaq's rules state broadly that independent directors cannot have a relationship that "would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director".

The New York Times

"Some prayed, but some who had prayed before they arrived would say: 'There cannot be a God if Auschwitz exists.'" For six weeks, Piechowski was set to work carrying corpses after executions.

The Guardian

But he said that, even under the Official Secrets Act, the police would not have been allowed to arrest Miranda because of what he was carrying.

The Guardian

The ship was carrying 1,150 tonnes of fish, but had only 50 tonnes of fuel, Velmeskin said.

The Guardian

Related: Mexican man dies during violent police response to teachers protest in Acapulco Six people died and 43 others disappeared last September when a bus convoy carrying a party of student teachers was attacked by municipal police officers, allegedly in league with a local drug cartel.

The Guardian

The government has acknowledged that another boat, carrying 41 asylum seekers, was handed over to the Sri Lankan navy during an on-water transfer off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The Guardian

A Whitehall source told the Post the government is about to announce the GBP150m tram scheme, which would see 22 trams running on one line from Liverpool to Kirkby, each carrying 200 passengers.

The Guardian

Mark Wood is the uncapped quickie in question and, after a month of carrying the drinks in the Caribbean, the 25-year-old is hoping raw skills trump a lack of familiarity with the home of cricket and that he is granted a Test debut by the captain, Alastair Cook, and the caretaker coach, Paul Farbrace.

The Guardian - Sport

The report said that abducted women and girls held by Boko Haram ranged in age from infancy to 65. "They and many others they saw in the camps were subjected to physical and psychological abuse; forced labour; forced participation in military operations, including carrying ammunition or luring men into ambush; forced marriage to the captors; and sexual abuse, including rape," the report says.

The Guardian

Coleman, however, dismissed Tardelli's comments, described Bale's attitude as "magnificent" and made it clear the only reason the 24-year-old will not line up against Ireland is because it is "too much of a risk" to play him when he is carrying a slight foot injury.

The Guardian - Sport

"Parental support plays a key role in shaping the housing options of young people in the UK, irrespective of social class," says Peter Mackie, an academic at the University of Cardiff who is carrying out a major piece of research on housing for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the act of "carrying", consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Use synonyms like "transporting", "bearing", or "conveying" to add precision to your writing. The best choice depends on the specific context of what is being carried and how.

Common error

Avoid using "carrying" as a default verb for all instances of physical transfer. Sometimes, it can be less descriptive than more precise alternatives. For instance, rather than "carrying a box", consider "lugging a crate" or "toting a bag" if these actions are more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "carrying" is that of a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "is carrying") or as a gerund (e.g., "carrying heavy loads is tiring"). Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of "carrying".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "carrying" functions primarily as a present participle and gerund, commonly used to describe the action of transporting something or performing a task. It maintains a neutral register and is widely used across different contexts, especially in news and media. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and its meaning is clear in various situations. When writing, consider if synonyms such as "transporting" or "bearing" might better convey the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

transporting

Focuses specifically on the act of moving something from one place to another.

bearing

Emphasizes the act of supporting or holding while moving.

conveying

Highlights the action of communicating or transmitting something.

hauling

Implies transporting something heavy or bulky.

lugging

Suggests carrying something with difficulty due to its weight or size.

toting

Informal way of saying carrying, often suggesting carrying by hand.

ferrying

Specifically refers to transporting people or goods across a body of water.

carting

Implies using a cart or similar vehicle for transportation.

portaging

Describes carrying boats or supplies overland between navigable waters.

ferrying

Specifically refers to transporting people or goods across a body of water

FAQs

What does "carrying" mean?

"Carrying" generally means holding or supporting something while moving it. It can also mean transmitting or conveying something, like a message or disease.

How can I use "carrying" in a sentence?

You can use "carrying" to describe someone holding something (e.g., "She was carrying a heavy suitcase"), or to describe something conveying something else (e.g., "The virus was "carrying disease"").

What are some synonyms for "carrying"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "carrying" include "transporting", "bearing", "conveying", and "holding".

Is it correct to use "carrying out" instead of "doing"?

"Carrying out" implies performing a task or action, often with a specific plan or method. While you can use "doing", "carrying out" may sound more formal and precise (e.g., "carrying out an investigation" vs. "doing an investigation").