coming to light

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "coming to light" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to become known or revealed, often after being hidden or secret. Example: The documents, which had been hidden for years, were finally coming to light thanks to a whistleblower.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Other serious abuses are coming to light.

The New York Times

But abuses keep coming to light.

The New York Times

Millions are coming to light.

The Guardian

Something vile is gradually coming to light.

The Guardian - Books

And so more is coming to light".

The Guardian - Business

But some details are already coming to light.

The New York Times

The scandal is widening, with more allegations coming to light.

The Economist

More and more stories are coming to light of sexual crimes during the riots.

The Economist

How do the saints feel when they fall to their knees,                    God coming to light?

The New Yorker

We think this may be a broader international epidemic that is just now coming to light.

The New York Times

The breadth of the corruption now coming to light has astonished even cynical Italians.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "coming to light" to describe situations where information or facts are gradually being discovered or revealed, especially after being hidden or unknown.

Common error

Avoid using "coming to light" with inanimate subjects that cannot actively reveal information. For example, instead of saying "The building's structure is coming to light", say "Details of the building's structure are coming to light".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "coming to light" functions as a verbal phrase, often acting as part of a continuous verb tense. It describes the process of something previously hidden or unknown becoming revealed or known. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "coming to light" is a versatile and frequently used expression that describes the gradual revelation of information or facts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it effectively conveys the process of discovery, often implying a previous state of obscurity. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it aligns with subjects that can logically have information revealed about them. Alternatives such as "being revealed" or "becoming apparent" can offer nuanced variations depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being revealed

Focuses on the act of revealing rather than the process of becoming known.

becoming apparent

Emphasizes the increasing clarity and obviousness of something.

emerging

Suggests a gradual appearance or rise to prominence.

surfacing

Implies something previously hidden is now visible.

being uncovered

Highlights the act of discovering something previously concealed.

being disclosed

Focuses on the act of making something known, often officially.

being brought to the surface

Similar to surfacing but more emphatic and descriptive.

becoming known

A more straightforward and general way of saying something is being discovered.

being unearthed

Suggests a more thorough and investigative discovery.

unfolding

Implies a gradual revelation of events or details.

FAQs

How can I use "coming to light" in a sentence?

Use "coming to light" to describe the gradual revealing of information or facts, as in, "More details about the scandal are "coming to light" as the investigation progresses".

What can I say instead of "coming to light"?

You can use alternatives like "being revealed", "becoming apparent", or "emerging" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "comes to light" instead of "coming to light"?

"Comes to light" is the base form, while "coming to light" is the present participle, often used in continuous tenses. The choice depends on the sentence structure. For example, "The truth comes to light eventually" versus "The truth is "coming to light" now".

What's the difference between "coming to light" and "brought to light"?

"Coming to light" implies a gradual or natural revealing, while "brought to light" suggests a deliberate action of revealing something. For instance, "The issue is "coming to light" through investigation" versus "The journalist "brought to light" the corruption".