digressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "digressing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone is straying from the main topic of discussion. Example: "While I appreciate your input, I feel we are digressing from the main point of our meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 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

Like a chic post-modernist, but also like a classical poet, he mixes fiction with history and meditation, endlessly digressing into new stories.

The Economist

The author, a former professor of English at University College London, is out to entertain punning, digressing, mixing it up, high and low.

The Economist

At one point, digressing, he explained that, as a child, he had not hated the game Marco Polo.

The New Yorker

They dig his humor, which often appears as a sort of wry comment on his own verbal style — as, for example, when digressing to students at the University of London about bird ecology not long ago, he described how "the male birds fly off to sweep out areas of maximum anticipated metabolic advantage," then paused and added, reflectively, "Worms".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

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

I digress.

The New York Times - Sports

(Tiger Woods doesn't look like an international playboy... but I digress).

The Guardian - Sport

(Well, if it worked for Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder...) But I digress.

The Guardian - Film

Iran, he declared, would be happy to join in any effort to ban the bomb.As Mr Ahmadinejad digressed with a brief tirade about supposed CIA and Zionist support for terrorist networks, Western delegates walked out.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "digressing" in writing, ensure that the digression serves a purpose, such as providing context or humor, and that you clearly signal a return to the main topic to avoid confusing the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "digressing" excessively or without a clear purpose, as frequent and irrelevant digressions can weaken your argument and frustrate your audience. Keep digressions brief and ensure they add value to the overall message.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "digressing" is as a verb in its present participle form, often used within a continuous tense or as a gerund. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is correct and usable. It describes the action of moving away from the main subject in speech or writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "digressing" is a grammatically sound verb form used to describe a temporary departure from a central topic, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's very common in News & Media sources, indicating a neutral register. When using "digressing", ensure it serves a clear purpose and doesn't detract from your main message. Related phrases include "straying from the point" or "wandering off-topic". Remember to signal a return to the original topic to maintain clarity. The high expert rating reflects its consistent, correct usage in authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

straying from the point

This alternative directly indicates a deviation from the central topic.

wandering off-topic

This phrase emphasizes the lack of focus and movement away from the subject.

deviating from the subject

This option uses a more formal tone to express a departure from the topic.

getting sidetracked

This phrase is more informal and suggests being distracted from the main point.

going off on a tangent

This idiom describes a sudden and often unrelated shift in topic.

losing focus

This option emphasizes the inability to maintain attention on the primary subject.

veering off course

This phrase implies a change in direction away from the intended path of discussion.

departing from the main issue

This expression offers a more formal way to indicate a shift away from the central concern.

meandering from the topic

This implies a slow and indirect drift away from the main subject.

straying into irrelevancies

Highlights that the departure from main subject is also irrelevant.

FAQs

How can I use "digressing" in a sentence?

You can use "digressing" to indicate a temporary departure from the main topic, such as, "While I was explaining the main issue, I found myself "digressing" into related anecdotes."

What are some alternatives to "digressing"?

Alternatives to "digressing" include "straying from the point", "wandering off-topic", or "deviating from the subject".

Is it acceptable to start a sentence with "digressing"?

Starting a sentence with "digressing" is grammatically correct, but it's often better to use a transitional phrase like "Digressing briefly," or "Before I "continue", "digressing" on the previous topic..." for smoother flow.

What's the difference between "digressing" and "rambling"?

"Digressing" implies a temporary departure from the main topic with the intent to return, while "rambling" suggests a more disorganized and aimless flow of speech or writing without a clear direction or return to the original subject.