days going by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "days going by" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to convey the passage of time or the feeling of time moving forward. Example: "As the days going by turned into weeks, I realized how much I had changed." Alternative expressions include "time passing" and "days passing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

We saw days going by and nothing happening".

The New York Times

Now, jobless, days going by one at a time, Katie found herself saying things like: "It's driving me bonkers.

The New York Times

Riddley Walker's landscapes were made more real by being a non-native speaker in crowded trains, by whole days going by without conversing with anyone.

The Guardian - Books

Over it all lies Byrne's head-scratching half-spoken half-sung vocal about living in a beautiful house with a beautiful wife, days going by and water flowing underground, written ad-hoc to Eno's placeholder mumblings and inspired by the call-and-response style rantings of American radio evangelists.

The Guardian - Music

But for now it's just nice to remember the good 'ol days when we celebrated entire days going by without Twitter going down.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The days went by too fast.

The Guardian - Travel

More days went by.

The New Yorker

Two days went by.

The New Yorker

Days went by.

The New Yorker

A few days went by.

The New York Times

Days go by, weeks.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "days going by" to emphasize the continuous and often uneventful passage of time, especially when describing a period of waiting or observation.

Common error

Avoid using "days going by" when you need to convey a sense of urgency or excitement. It's more suitable for portraying a slower, more reflective experience. For expressing urgency, use phrases like "immediately" or "without delay."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "days going by" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes the process of time passing. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it often acts as a subject or part of an adverbial phrase to set the scene or describe a situation evolving over time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "days going by" is a phrase used to describe the passage of time, frequently suggesting a sense of waiting or uneventfulness. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase appears primarily in News & Media, indicating a neutral register. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare. When writing, consider the subtle implications of monotony or observation that this phrase can carry. For situations requiring a more formal tone, alternatives such as "the passage of time" may be preferable. Based on the Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English to convey the passage of time or the feeling of time moving forward.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time elapsing

Focuses on the continuous flow of time passing.

time passing

A general way to describe the progression of time.

days passing

Similar to the original phrase, but with a slightly more static feel.

as time goes on

Emphasizes the continuation of time and its effects.

with the passage of time

A more formal way to describe time moving forward.

as days unfold

A more poetic way to describe the progression of time.

marching days

Highlights the relentless, often monotonous, progress of days.

passing moments

Focuses on the individual moments that make up time.

flying days

Suggests that time is passing quickly.

drifting days

Suggests a slow and directionless passing of time.

FAQs

How can I use "days going by" in a sentence?

You can use "days going by" to illustrate the passage of time, often implying a sense of monotony or uneventfulness. For example, "The project stalled, and the "days going by" felt increasingly unproductive."

What's a more formal alternative to "days going by"?

For a more formal tone, consider phrases like "the passage of time" or "with each passing day". These alternatives offer a similar meaning but are better suited for professional or academic writing.

Is there a difference between "days going by" and "days passing"?

While similar, "days going by" often carries a stronger connotation of observation and potential stagnation, whereas "days passing" is a more neutral description of time elapsing.

When is it appropriate to use "days going by" instead of "time elapsing"?

"Days going by" is suitable when you want to specifically highlight the daily progression and potentially its impact, whereas "time elapsing" is a broader, more abstract concept.