exercising patience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exercising patience" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of being patient or demonstrating patience in a situation. Example: "In challenging times, it is important to practice exercising patience with ourselves and others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

He will go from here, exercising patience as the Red Sox figure out the best course of action for him and them.

The New York Times - Sports

Paradise Regained hearkens back to the Book of Job, whose principal character is tempted by Satan to forgo his faith in God and to cease exercising patience and fortitude in the midst of ongoing and ever-increasing adversity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He gets laughs out of lines that sound almost as if they weren't intended to be funny, simply by exercising patience in a genre not known for it -- and in a movie built to run like an express train.

The New York Times

It means exercising patience, ignoring some of his verbal provocations (many of which are attempts at distraction), pointing out that his policies are hurting the very people he is claiming to represent, and, above all, committing to beating him and his allies politically.

The New Yorker

However, exercising patience and learning how to handle oneself usually resolves the problems that arise.

Science Magazine

Exercising patience as you work your way up will only get you so far, though.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

To try extra hard to exercise patience, politeness, and imagination on those with whom I disagree.

The New Yorker

What has your father taught you about leadership? A. How to exercise patience.

The New York Times

And the method may increase a person's ability to exercise patience.

University of California, Berkeley

"It's hard to exercise patience, but that is what is needed," she says.

MIT Technology Review

She exercises patience, waiting for Greece to see sense on economic reform and Britain to resolve its domestic problems.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "exercising patience", ensure the context clearly indicates who is being patient and in what situation. For example, "The manager is exercising patience with the new employee's learning curve."

Common error

Avoid using "exercising patience" when the context implies inaction or avoidance of responsibility. Patience should be active, not passive. For instance, instead of "exercising patience" while ignoring a problem, focus on actively resolving it with a calm and measured approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exercising patience" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act of being patient. As Ludwig AI states, it is usable in written English. The phrase illustrates a process or behavior, rather than a static quality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

7%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exercising patience" is a grammatically sound and commonly used gerund phrase that describes the act of actively being patient. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media but also appears in formal and business contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, ensure the situation warrants an active, rather than passive, approach to patience. Alternatives such as "demonstrating forbearance" or "practicing tolerance" can be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining patient

Focuses on staying in a state of patience.

showing forbearance

Emphasizes the act of restraining oneself from reacting negatively.

maintaining self-control

Stresses the ability to regulate one's emotions and actions.

demonstrating composure

Highlights maintaining a calm and controlled demeanor.

displaying restraint

Emphasizes controlling one's actions or words.

practicing tolerance

Focuses on accepting differing views or behaviors.

keeping calm

A more informal way of saying maintaining composure.

cultivating equanimity

Suggests developing a balanced mental state, especially under stress.

being understanding

Highlights showing empathy and consideration for others.

applying long-suffering

Suggests enduring hardship with patience and without complaint.

FAQs

How can I use "exercising patience" in a sentence?

You can use "exercising patience" to describe a situation where someone is actively being patient. For example, "The teacher is "exercising patience" with her students as they learn a new concept."

What's a more formal way to say "exercising patience"?

More formal alternatives include "demonstrating forbearance" or "cultivating equanimity", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "exerting patience" instead of "exercising patience"?

While "exerting patience" is understandable, ""exercising patience"" is more common and idiomatic. "Exerting" may imply a greater degree of effort or strain.

In what situations is "exercising patience" most appropriate?

"Exercising patience" is appropriate in situations that require actively managing one's emotions and responses, such as dealing with difficult people, navigating challenging projects, or "awaiting results".