dwelling

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dwelling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a house or other type of living space, such as a cave or treehouse. For example, you could say: "The family had to leave their cozy mountain dwelling when the forest began to flood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

It led to annual state final demand in WA falling for the sixth quarter in a row: By contrast, state final demand in New South Wales increased by 4% over the past year, driven by a 3.9% increase in household consumption and a 16% increase in dwelling construction.

The Guardian - Business

But before we run for our anti-smug shelters, it's worth dwelling on one final image of the Sydney Test.

The Guardian - Sport

Given the success "Capital" has had, I'm reluctant to second-guess Mr Piketty, but it does seem as though it would have been worth dwelling a bit more on how his r relates to other interest rates.

The Economist

When the repeated rounds of cheering had subsided, he addressed the audience in his able and eloquent style, dwelling with great point on topics similar to those urged in the Preliminary Number of THE ECONOMIST, touching on sugar, coffee, wool, &c., and then addressed himself to the question of the opinions of the Liverpool constituency.

The Economist

Second, dwelling on soft issues left the Tories unprepared for the return of hard economic questions brought about by the financial crisis, a subject on which they rarely sounded convincing.The government knows that making too much of its environmentalism risks alienating squeezed voters.

The Economist

He also paraphrases William Galston, a former aide to Bill Clinton, who says the president is taking "a 'winning the future' approach rather than dwelling on the problems of the moment".So is Mr Obama giving up on a progressive liberal vision of the future for realist pragmatism, or is he being pragmatic by staying above today's partisan squabbling and focusing on the long-term liberal vision?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

For one thing, the camera traps definitively proved that the lesula was primarily – and oddly – a ground-dwelling monkey.

The Guardian

It is in fact a towering portrait of Damien Hirst, one-time hell-raising leader of the Young British Artists group, now a sober, middle-aged, country-dwelling millionaire.

The Guardian - Arts

I see this image of the basement-dwelling wizard who rejects societal conventions to such an extreme degree as one of the tragic heroes of our times".

The Guardian - Music

This virtual floor-dwelling entity then follows you around the room as you shuffle about, interacting with monitors with giant eyes on them, some of which offer to "turn you into a song".

The Guardian - Travel

But the issues are more complex, for these are indigenous "Indians".The Ralco dam in south-central Chile, already more than half-complete, straddles the upper valley of the spectacular Biobio river, home to the Pehuenche Indians, close kin of the more numerous lowland-dwelling Mapuches.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dwelling" in formal writing when you want to sound more sophisticated than simply saying "house" or "home". For example, in legal documents or academic papers.

Common error

Avoid using "dwelling" in casual conversation. It can sound overly formal or stilted when simpler words like "house" or "apartment" would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The word "dwelling" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a place of residence. It can also function as a verb, specifically as the present participle of "dwell". Ludwig AI confirms the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "dwelling" is a noun that refers to a place of residence, carrying a slightly more formal tone than "house" or "home". As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for written English. While versatile, it's best reserved for formal contexts or when a more descriptive term is needed. Usage patterns indicate its prevalence in news and media, business, and science. When writing, avoid overuse in casual conversations, as simpler terms may be more appropriate. Semantically related alternatives include "residence", "abode", and "habitation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

residence

A more formal term for a place where someone lives.

abode

A literary term for a place of residence.

habitation

A formal word indicating a place where someone lives.

home

A common and versatile term for a place of residence, often implying a sense of belonging.

house

A standard term for a building used as a residence.

domicile

A legal term for a person's fixed or permanent home.

living quarters

A more descriptive phrase for a place where someone lives.

place of residence

A formal phrase specifying a location where someone lives.

lodging

Implies temporary accommodation or housing.

property

This refers more to the legal ownership or the physical entity, not directly to its function as a place to live, but can be used in context.

FAQs

How can I use "dwelling" in a sentence?

You can use "dwelling" to refer to a place where someone lives, as in "The old house served as a dwelling for Albert" or "Parveen Shaikh was born in a pavement dwelling of sacks and plastic sheets".

What are some synonyms for "dwelling"?

Synonyms for "dwelling" include "residence", "abode", "habitation", "home", and "house", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is "dwelling" a formal or informal term?

"Dwelling" tends to be more formal than words like "house" or "home". It's often used in legal, real estate, or historical contexts. For casual conversation, simpler terms are usually preferred.

What's the difference between "dwelling" and "house"?

While both refer to a building where people live, "dwelling" is more formal and can encompass a wider variety of living spaces, while "house" typically refers to a more conventional structure. A cave, for instance, could be a "dwelling", but not typically a "house".