coming and going

USAGE SUMMARY

"coming and going" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom that means to continually come and go, and can be used figuratively to refer to something that is constantly changing or occurring in different forms or moments. Example sentence: Traffic was heavy all day, with cars coming and going.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Coming and going.

The New York Times

"There have been manufacturers coming and going.

The New York Times - Sports

Galleries are constantly coming and going.

The New York Times - Arts

People always coming and going".

The New York Times - Magazine

People are coming and going.

The Guardian - Film

It keeps coming and going.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Draftsmen kept coming and going.

The New York Times

Coming and going are the things eternal.

The Guardian - Books

They have Saudi princes coming and going.

The New York Times - Magazine

People keep coming and going here.

The New York Times - Arts

"During spring training, fluid was coming and going, coming and going," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "coming and going" to describe a bustling environment or frequent movement in and out of a place. It effectively conveys activity and transience.

Common error

While acceptable, "coming and going" is generally informal. In formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "arrival and departure" or "influx and efflux" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "coming and going" primarily functions as a descriptive idiom. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is used to depict a scene of constant movement or to suggest the transient nature of events, as illustrated by examples showing people or things in motion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "coming and going" is a common idiom used to describe continuous movement or transient activity. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and versatile. It's frequently found in news and media, where its neutral tone and accessibility make it suitable for describing a variety of situations involving movement and change. While generally informal, it can be used in semi-formal contexts as well. When writing in a formal style, consider using synonyms such as "arrival and departure" or "ebb and flow" to maintain a professional tone. Remember, this phrase effectively conveys the idea of bustle, activity and transience in both literal and figurative senses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comings and goings

This is a slightly more formal or emphatic version, emphasizing multiple instances of arrival and departure.

comings and goings

Plural form that emphasizes the multiple instances of arriving and leaving, implies continuous activity.

arrival and departure

Focuses specifically on the acts of arriving and departing, emphasizing the endpoints of movement rather than the continuous action.

ebb and flow

Suggests a rhythmic pattern of receding and returning, often used metaphorically to describe fluctuating situations.

flux and reflux

Describes a back-and-forth movement or change, often in a more technical or scientific context.

inflow and outflow

Highlights the movement of substances or people into and out of a place or system.

traffic

Refers to the movement of people or vehicles along a route, focusing on the volume and flow.

intermittent movement

Highlights the sporadic nature of the movement, implying that it is not constant.

oscillating presence

Describes something whose presence varies in strength or appearance, from absence to full presence and back again.

circulating around

Suggests a continuous movement within a given area, implying that the same entities are repeatedly moving.

FAQs

How can I use "coming and going" in a sentence?

You can use "coming and going" to describe a scene of constant movement, such as "The airport was busy, with planes "landing and taking off"" or to describe changes, such as "The project has faced several obstacles "arising and dissipating"".

What are some alternatives to "coming and going"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "arrival and departure", "ebb and flow", or "influx and outflow".

Is "comings and goings" different from "coming and going"?

"Comings and goings" is the plural form, emphasizing multiple instances of arrival and departure and implying continuous activity, while "coming and going" is the base form referring to the general concept of moving in and out.

When is it appropriate to use "coming and going" in writing?

It is appropriate in most informal and neutral contexts to describe movement or frequent changes. For more formal contexts, consider using more precise or technical terms depending on the subject matter.