conferring

USAGE SUMMARY

'conferring' is an acceptable word in written English.
It is commonly used as a verb, meaning to discuss a matter in order to come to a conclusion or agreement. Example sentence: The management team spent the meeting conferring on the best way to attract new customers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Tonight we came together, it was a positive meeting, it was a good beginning," tweeted the 67-year-old Akinci after conferring with Anastasiades in the UN buffer zone that bisects the isle.

The Guardian

They are all different cases being investigated on suspicion of governments conferring state aid or hidden subsidies on big firms with operations in their countries.

The Guardian

The woman who answered my 101 call tutted when I told her what happened and after conferring with a colleague confirmed that I had certainly been the victim of an assault, if not also a sexual assault.

The Guardian

No amount of digging with chapped fingers into greasy saucepans (dishcloths were frowned on) could shake the employers' sense of conferring a privilege.Nor could anything modernise them.

The Economist

Judges watch the debate, then immediately vote on the winner before conferring.

The Economist

But it was always vulnerable to what Mr Fukuyama calls "the bad emperor problem" as well as to the hardwired human tendency to make ties of kinship the primary criterion for conferring wealth, power and status.

The Economist

Rather than wait for the plants to grow, and then see if they have the desired trait, researchers can simply test them with the antibiotic.Green groups worry that genes conferring resistance to antibiotics might find their way into bacteria either in the soil when the plants decay, or in the stomachs of animals, where bacteria and squelched-up plant matter mingle freely.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

In general, Williams concludes, identity-conferring commitments cannot play the kind of role in act-utilitarian moral deliberation that is required for an agent to act with integrity, that is, for an agent to act with genuine conviction in matters of grave, identity-determining importance to them.

SEP

Williams holds this view because he sees integrity as steadfast maintenance of identity-conferring commitments, a view we discussed in section 2. Nonetheless, Williams sets out a clear challenge for those who hold integrity to be a virtue.

SEP

If the holding came about by modes of action that are not permissible (or are permissible but not title-conferring) the possessor will not be entitled to it.

SEP

The Economist would not approve of granting monopolies to other businesses through monopoly-conferring licences.Even if this is the best way of handing out licences, why should the proceeds be annexed by government as a tax?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being "conferred". Specify the object or quality being given and the recipient to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "conferring" in a way that obscures who is doing the conferring. Passive constructions can lead to vagueness. Instead of "benefits were conferring", specify who was conferring the benefits.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "conferring" is as a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses or as a gerund. It can also function as an adjective, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conferring" is a versatile term primarily used as a present participle. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently employed to describe the act of bestowing or granting something, or consulting/discussing with someone. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, it maintains a neutral formality. For effective usage, be specific about what's being bestowed or discussed and who is doing the conferring. Related terms include "bestowing" and "granting", offering nuanced alternatives depending on context. Always ensure clarity in your sentences to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bestowing

Focuses on the act of granting or presenting something, often a right or honor.

granting

Emphasizes formally giving permission or rights.

awarding

Highlights the act of giving something as a prize or honor.

bestowing upon

Adds emphasis to the act of giving, suggesting a deliberate act of endowment.

imparting

Focuses on communicating or bestowing a quality or piece of knowledge.

consulting with

Emphasizes the act of seeking advice or discussing with someone.

discussing with

Highlights the conversational aspect of exchanging ideas or information.

deliberating with

Suggests a careful and thorough discussion before making a decision.

granting to

Highlights to whom a thing is being given

according

A more formal synonym denoting to give or grant someone something

FAQs

How do I use "conferring" in a sentence?

"Conferring" is generally used to describe the act of bestowing something, like a title or right, or to describe consulting with someone. For example, "The university is "conferring an honorary degree"" or "The manager is "conferring with the team"".

What are some synonyms for "conferring"?

Alternatives to "conferring" include "bestowing", "granting", or "awarding". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "conferring" to describe a formal meeting?

Yes, "conferring" can describe a formal meeting, especially when the purpose is to consult or discuss something important. In such cases, "consulting" or "deliberating" might be more precise depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "conferring" and "consulting"?

"Conferring" can imply both bestowing something and consulting, while "consulting" primarily refers to seeking advice or discussing. The key difference is that "conferring" often involves a transfer or granting of something, which is not inherent in "consulting".