digress from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "digress from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to shift the focus or topic of a conversation away from the original point. For example, "Let's not digress from the original topic and stay focused on the matter at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

From one of my conversations with him: "I'll digress". From another: "To loop back to the beginning of the digression". And from yet another: "Let me back up and create a context" — followed by "I've lost my train of thought". I told his communications director, Eric Brown, that I could, and perhaps should, spend an entire evening trying to diagram an interview with Hickenlooper.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Therefore, in the end, no digression can digress from the subject: in Sterne's novel, digression is impossible".

The New York Times - Books

But I digress (from my digression).

TechCrunch

Let's digress from anything ending in -ession.

The New York Times

Guardian contributor TimMinchin1 16 July 2014 2 45pm I'll digress from this one a bit.

The Guardian

But they're at their best when they digress from beats-and-rhymes purism.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Among the girls, Ms. Dente has long had a reputation for digressing from the subject and then digressing from the digression.

The New York Times

"He is constantly digressing from his own tangent, so he's digressing from a digression".

The New York Times

The allegory itself was of little importance to him; the famous "Confession" of Nature (one of the characters in the poem) digressed from the narrative for some 3,500 verses, yet it was such digressions that secured the poem's reputation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ironically, we had just digressed from the agenda, to speak about disaster preparedness for 2010.

The New Yorker

Six months ago he digressed from such standard ficatives as civet & castoreum & entered the skunk field.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "digress from" to signal a temporary departure from your main point, but always ensure you return to the original topic to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid frequent or lengthy digressions, as they can confuse your audience and weaken your argument. Use it sparingly and purposefully.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "digress from" functions as a verb phrase indicating a temporary departure or deviation from a central subject or line of thought. It signals a shift in focus, as shown in Ludwig's examples where speakers and writers consciously move away from the main point for a moment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "digress from" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a temporary departure from a main topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and applicable across various contexts. While frequently found in "News & Media", it also holds relevance in "Science" and "Academic" spheres. To use it effectively, signal the digression clearly, maintain brevity, and always return to your original point. Understanding these nuances ensures clarity and prevents confusion, reinforcing the effectiveness of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deviate from

Implies a departure from an established course or standard, often with a negative connotation.

stray from

Suggests a wandering or unintentional movement away from the intended path or topic.

veer from

Indicates a sudden or sharp change in direction, either literally or figuratively.

depart from

Implies a formal or deliberate divergence from a set path or plan.

diverge from

Suggests branching out or moving in different directions, often implying a growing separation.

wander from

Highlights a gradual and often aimless drifting away from the main subject.

go off on a tangent

An idiomatic expression for suddenly shifting to a related but distinct topic.

get sidetracked from

Emphasizes the interruption and distraction from the original subject.

turn aside from

Suggests a conscious choice to move away from the current topic or direction.

shift focus from

Indicates a change in emphasis or attention from one subject to another.

FAQs

How to use "digress from" in a sentence?

You can use "digress from" to indicate a temporary departure from the main subject. For example, "I'll "digress from" the topic of climate change to discuss the economic impact."

What can I say instead of "digress from"?

You can use alternatives like "deviate from", "stray from", or "go off on a tangent depending on the context".

Which is correct, "digress from" or "digress to"?

"Digress from" is correct when you mean to move away from a topic. "Digress to" is not a standard or commonly accepted usage.

Is it okay to "digress from" a formal presentation?

While it's generally best to stick to your prepared remarks in formal settings, a brief and relevant "digression from" the main topic can sometimes make a presentation more engaging.