coming at hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "coming at hand" is not commonly used in written English and may be considered awkward or incorrect.
It could be used in contexts where something is approaching or imminent, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "With the deadline coming at hand, we need to finalize our project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By doing this, you may find ideas coming at hand.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is at this stage that ecological planning comes at hand and attempts to embrace all the three dimensions of urban environments that culminate into sustainable development.

City, Territory and Architecture

Florida has started the 2018 season 7-1 with a win over No. 4 LSU and its only loss coming at the hands of No. 12 Kentucky.

Forbes

In 1983, the Hokies had gone 9 2, with one of the two losses coming at the hands of No. 9 West Virginia in a nationally televised game.

Wikipedia

In the Conference Semi-finals, the Avalanche were swept for the first time ever, coming at the hands of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Wikipedia

Together, Campbell and Sarkissian improved to 21-2 on the year, with, consequently, their only two losses coming at the hands of their Ojai finals' foes.

Los Angeles Times

Erdogan's demise will not come at the hand of foreign plots or alleged domestic coups - but by his very own hands.

Huffington Post

But then my time came at the hand of 25-year-old Brad Greenberg.

The New York Times

It's also that catastrophe has more often than not come at the hand of committed anti-socialists.

The Washington Post

The call didn't come at the hand of old Henry, by the way, but from Uncle Sam.

Forbes

Arguably its most famous outing came at the hands – well, one giant foam hand – of Miley Cyrus at the 2013 MTV VMAs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "coming at hand" in formal writing. Opt for more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "readily available" or "approaching" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

While experimenting with language can enrich your writing, prioritize clarity. Using expressions like "coming at hand" may confuse readers or make your writing seem unnatural. Always choose language that is both precise and easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "coming at hand" functions as a verbal phrase, suggesting an action that is approaching or becoming available. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as potentially awkward. Examples show its use in describing ideas becoming available or a stage being reached.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "coming at hand" is an uncommon expression that aims to convey the idea of something approaching or becoming available. However, Ludwig AI indicates it may sound awkward or incorrect to native English speakers. Analysis reveals that "coming at hand" appears across various contexts, including news, wiki, and scientific sources, but is not frequent in any specific domain. Therefore, it's advisable to opt for clearer and more conventional alternatives like "readily available", "approaching", or "within reach" to ensure effective communication. Given its infrequent usage and potential for awkwardness, using "coming at hand" should be approached with caution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close at hand

Indicates nearness and availability, similar to "within reach".

within reach

Emphasizes the proximity and attainability of something.

readily available

Focuses on the ease of access and availability, rather than the act of approaching.

easily accessible

Highlights the ease with which something can be obtained or used.

approaching

Focuses specifically on the act of nearing in time or space.

at one's disposal

Highlights the availability of something for someone's use.

imminent

Suggests that something is about to happen very soon.

on the verge of

Suggests an event is about to occur.

on the horizon

Indicates something is expected or likely to happen in the future.

in the offing

Means likely to happen or appear soon.

FAQs

Is "coming at hand" grammatically correct?

The phrase "coming at hand" is not commonly used and may sound awkward to native English speakers. It's generally better to use alternatives such as "readily available" or "approaching".

What are some alternatives to "coming at hand"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "within reach", "easily accessible", or "imminent" as more natural-sounding substitutes.

When is it appropriate to use "coming at hand"?

Given its uncommon usage, it is best to avoid "coming at hand" in most contexts. More conventional alternatives will generally provide clearer and more effective communication.

What is the difference between "coming at hand" and "close at hand"?

"Close at hand" is a more established idiom that means nearby or easily available. "Coming at hand" is less common and can sound awkward, so "close at hand" is generally a better choice when you mean something is nearby or accessible.