deleting

USAGE SUMMARY

"deleting" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to deleting or removing something such as data or files. For example, "I'm deleting the old files on my computer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The accounts can also be unlocked if certain conditions are being fulfilled, such as the offending user providing Twitter with their phone number for verification purposes, or deleting the problem tweets.

The Guardian - Tech

It's all in the name Google is not deleting articles from its ecosystem.

The Guardian - Tech

In this, we've not taken the more extensive move of deleting your Google web search history – though if you don't want to be (silently) tracked by Google, then stop using Google's search (there are plenty of other search engines that won't track you, such as DuckDuckGo.com or Blekko.com.

The Guardian - Tech

"If they wanted to, Google and Facebook could use technology to tackle the issue, anonymizing and deleting their customers' information.

The Guardian - Tech

In addition, we believe that deleting an entire archive of comments can damage the conversations on site and experience for other users.

The Guardian

I have been successful in removing my online presence by deleting almost all accounts, doing online (public open source) work via an alias, though I still have a GMail account under an alias.

The Guardian - Tech

A spokesman told the state news agency RIA Novosti that the watchdog's complaints related mainly to deleting pages with extremist materials and receiving information under what is known as the "bloggers law".

The Guardian

Or the Bauer Media group deleting all of Heat magazine's pictures of fat celebrities in bikinis and replacing them with the full text of The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere by Jürgen Habermas.

The Guardian

"At the dinner, Michael expressed outrage at Lacy's column and said that women are far more likely to get assaulted by taxi drivers than Uber drivers," says Smith. "He said that he thought Lacy should be held 'personally responsible' for any woman who followed her lead in deleting Uber and was then sexually assaulted.

The Guardian - Tech

In any concession she can make to Britain on Thursday, Merkel will be restrained by her coalition agreement with the Social Democrats, who would never accept reopening the Lisbon treaty and deleting the phrase "ever closer union", as some British Conservatives would like to.

The Guardian

Trey Gowdy, Republican of South Carolina, the chairman of a House committee investigating the 2012 Benghazi attacks, said Clinton wiped her email server "clean", permanently deleting all emails from it and has declined to relinquish her server to a third party for an independent review.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about digital content, use "deleting" to describe the removal of files, data, or accounts. Be precise about what is being deleted to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "deleting" is widely understood, using more formal synonyms like "removing" or "expunging" can enhance the professionalism and clarity of your writing, especially in academic or legal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "deleting" is that of a present participle, typically used in continuous verb tenses (e.g., "I am deleting") or as a gerund (e.g., "Deleting files can free up space"). Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing actions in progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

36%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deleting" functions as a versatile term signifying the act of removal, particularly in digital contexts. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and widely used, reflected in its prevalence across news, encyclopedias and scientific domains. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "removing" or "expunging" may be preferable in specific professional settings. Understanding its nuances helps refine communication and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

removing

Focuses on physically taking something away or eliminating its presence.

erasing

Implies wiping something clean, often used in the context of digital data or writing.

canceling

Suggests voiding or annulling something, like an appointment or subscription.

eliminating

Indicates a complete removal or eradication of something, often used for problems or obstacles.

expunging

Implies a more formal or official deletion, often used in legal or historical contexts.

wiping out

Suggests a complete and often destructive removal.

cutting out

Indicates removing a part of something, like text or an image.

taking out

A more informal way of saying removing something.

striking out

Suggests crossing something out, making it no longer valid or visible.

purging

Implies a thorough and often systematic removal of unwanted elements.

FAQs

How is "deleting" used in a sentence?

"Deleting" is the present participle of the verb delete, typically used to describe an action in progress. For example, "I am deleting the old files" or "The system is deleting temporary data".

What alternatives can I use instead of "deleting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "removing", "erasing", or "eliminating" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "deleting" and "removing"?

While often interchangeable, "deleting" commonly refers to digital data, while "removing" can apply to physical objects or abstract concepts. For example, you might "delete" a file but "remove" a stain.

When is it appropriate to use "deleting" in professional writing?

"Deleting" is appropriate in professional writing when describing the removal of digital information. However, consider using more formal terms like "expunging" or "removing" for increased sophistication.