encountering one another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encountering one another" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe situations where two or more people or entities meet or come across each other, often in a social or relational context. Example: "During the conference, participants found themselves encountering one another in unexpected ways, leading to fruitful discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The comedy universe is relatively small, so the 10 who made it to the house were hardly strangers -- they had been encountering one another on the road for years, had worked together, formed friendships.

The New York Times

They gave each other knowing nods in the way transcendent athletes do upon encountering one another.

The Guardian - Sport

The city's incredibly diverse ethnicities, used to encountering one another only in strictly hierarchical service situations, are now being squeezed together in rude proximity for the first time.

The Guardian - Arts

Upon closer inspection the fish net turned out to be a crashed chandelier, as if the dancers were encountering one another in a haunted house.

The New York Times

However, year-to-year variability in local meteorological, oceanographic, and socioeconomic conditions also significantly influences the local abundance of sharks and humans in the water and, therefore, the odds of encountering one another.

The Washington Post

Now that two-thirds of them had started hating me, the other third was forced to constantly shuffle his schedule to keep the children and me from encountering one another.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Empathy particularly when it happens in the context of people coming from different sides of history, encountering one another empathy is the ability to put oneself in the other person's shoes.

Cornell University

Seven years passed, and the two would occasionally encounter one another on business trips.

The New York Times

But the line between the two communities has increasingly blurred as C.I.A. officers and military personnel have encountered one another on multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The New Yorker

This common destination will increase the chance that people will encounter one another on their journey (even if the game sells millions of copies, when your playground consists of 18 quintillion planets, a single encounter is statistically unlikely).

The Guardian - Tech

More often than not, our ex-girlfriends or ex-flings will never encounter one another or interact on anything below surface level.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encountering one another" to add a slightly more formal or literary tone to your writing, especially when describing chance meetings or unexpected interactions.

Common error

Avoid using "encountering one another" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "meeting" or "running into" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountering one another" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun to describe the act of meeting or interacting. As seen in Ludwig, it typically describes a scenario where individuals or entities come into contact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encountering one another" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of two or more entities meeting or interacting. As Ludwig AI explains, its usage ranges across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While alternatives like "meeting each other" exist, "encountering one another" adds a slightly more formal tone, making it suitable for descriptive writing and reports. Overusing it in informal situations should be avoided, as simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. With its neutral register, this phrase serves as a versatile tool for conveying interactions in a clear and slightly elevated manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meeting each other

This alternative is a more common and straightforward way to express the idea of people coming together.

coming across one another

This phrase implies a chance or unexpected meeting.

meeting up with each other

This suggests a pre-arranged meeting.

running into each other

This implies a casual, unplanned meeting.

intersecting with each other

This suggests a more formal or abstract interaction.

crossing paths with each other

This implies a brief or fleeting encounter.

interacting with each other

This broad term focuses on the action of people acting reciprocally.

engaging with each other

This suggests active involvement in a shared activity.

contacting one another

This means to communicate with each other.

interrelating with each other

This implies to be connected with each other.

FAQs

What does "encountering one another" mean?

The phrase "encountering one another" means meeting or coming across each other, often implying a chance or unexpected meeting. It can also refer to any form of interaction between two or more people or entities.

How can I use "encountering one another" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe situations where people or things meet or interact, such as: "During the conference, participants found themselves encountering one another in unexpected ways" or "The two species are encountering one another more frequently due to habitat loss."

What can I say instead of "encountering one another"?

You can use alternatives like "meeting each other", "coming across one another", or "running into each other" depending on the context.

Is "encountering one another" formal or informal?

"Encountering one another" is generally considered more formal than phrases like "meeting up" or "bumping into each other". It's suitable for formal writing, news articles, and academic papers.