chipping away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chipping away" is correct and usable in written English.
It is mostly used to describe the process of making gradual progress or progress in small steps, typically over a period of time. For example, "He has been chipping away at his debt since he lost his job last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We just kept chipping away.

The New York Times

But Errani began chipping away.

The New York Times

"And chipping away matters".

The New York Times

England were chipping away.

The Guardian - Sport

"We just kept chipping away, chipping away," Girardi said.

The New York Times - Sports

Kentucky just kept chipping away.

The New York Times - Sports

But YouTube is chipping away at that.

The New York Times

"We just started chipping away.

The New York Times - Sports

But, chipping away from within could work.

Independent

Nel is chipping away at Pistorius early.

The Guardian

"We were just chipping away," Brady said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the gradual loss or reduction of something, "chipping away" can add a sense of persistence or inevitability. Instead of saying "Inflation is reducing savings", try "Inflation is chipping away at savings".

Common error

While "chipping away" is versatile, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or sophisticated vocabulary might be preferred. For instance, replace it with "progressing incrementally" or "gradually diminishing" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chipping away" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used in continuous tenses (e.g., "is chipping away", "was chipping away"). It describes an ongoing process of making incremental progress or causing a gradual decline. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

25%

General Usage

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "chipping away" is a common and versatile verb phrase used to describe the process of making slow, consistent progress or causing a gradual decline. Ludwig AI indicates its usage across a variety of contexts, with a slightly higher prevalence in News & Media and Sports. When using "chipping away", remember to consider the intended tone, as more formal situations may require a more sophisticated alternative. The phrase is grammatically correct and effectively conveys the idea of incremental effort or erosion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making steady progress

Focuses on the act of progressing consistently, emphasizing the gradual nature of the advancement.

gradually reducing

Highlights the act of lessening something incrementally, emphasizing the reduction aspect.

eroding slowly

Emphasizes the gradual wearing away or destruction of something over time.

nibbling away

Suggests a more delicate or subtle method of diminishing something little by little.

whittling down

Implies reducing something to a desired form by carefully cutting away small pieces.

wearing down

Focuses on the gradual weakening or exhaustion of something through persistent effort or pressure.

making incremental gains

Highlights the small, successive improvements or advancements achieved over time.

dwindling slowly

Emphasizes the gradual decrease in size, amount, or intensity of something.

attenuating gradually

Focuses on the diminishing or weakening of something in a slow and measured manner.

diminishing bit by bit

Stresses the piecemeal reduction or decline of something over a period.

FAQs

How can I use "chipping away" in a sentence?

You can use "chipping away" to describe making gradual progress, as in "The team is "chipping away" at the backlog of tasks", or to describe something gradually diminishing, as in "The constant criticism was "chipping away" at her confidence".

What are some alternatives to "chipping away"?

Some alternatives to "chipping away" include "gradually reducing", "making steady progress", or "eroding slowly", depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "chipping away at" something?

Yes, the phrase "chipping away at" is the correct and commonly used form. It means to gradually reduce or weaken something over time through persistent effort or action.

What's the difference between "chipping away" and "tackling" a problem?

"Chipping away" implies gradual, persistent effort, while "tackling" suggests a more direct, confrontational approach to solving a problem. You might "tackle" a large problem head-on, but you would "chip away" at a problem that requires consistent, smaller efforts over time.