extracting

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'extracting' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about taking something out of something else, usually in the form of a process. For example, "The engineers were extracting oil from underneath the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And yet the European Union is one of the world's biggest exporters of sugar.This is possible only because Europe's sugar farmers are as adept at extracting favours from Brussels as they are at extracting sucrose from beet.

The Economist

But this justification is dangerously misleading, since the private sector consistently relies on the government or taxpayers to fund infrastructure, while extracting a profit, the margin of which can even be guaranteed in concession contracts," he said.

The Guardian

He said in the past four months Athens had managed to pay public sector salaries, pensions and its dues to the IMF by extracting 14% of national output, doing "remarkably well" for an economy that does not have access to money markets.

The Guardian

New York does not share California's generous laws regarding control of dead celebrities' images, and last week's hearing ruled in favour of those who believe the actor's estate has, for decades, been wrongly extracting a fee each time Monroe's image is used.

The Guardian - Film

After the anecdotal intimacies of the award-winning Toast, the mouth-watering riches of The Kitchen Diaries, here at OFM we're absolutely thrilled to be extracting his brilliant new book Eating for England.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Annan said he would be sending him a copy of the annual Africa Progress Report, which shows how the economic benefits of extracting natural resources such as oil and iron ore often fail to flow through to the local population.

The Guardian - Business

Shell has bought the site and has 10 supply contracts in place lasting up to 20 years, including from fracking companies extracting shale gas in the Marcellus shale field.

The Guardian

He began by extracting enormous profits from them and then failed to invest soon enough and enthusiastically enough in the necessary digital transition.

The Guardian

Yet some of our biggest companies and industries operate a business model that depends on them extracting money from the British taxpayer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Usually the local partner is less interested in building up brands or expanding market share than in extracting short-term profits in order to invest in new, and usually completely unrelated, ventures.

The Economist

What voters really want is for that world of stagnant wages and higher costs to go away.Stars of the populist left, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, suggest that something of the sort could be achieved by extracting more in taxes from the rich and from businesses, and by beating up big banks.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "extracting", ensure the context clearly indicates both the source and the substance being extracted to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "extracting" for purely abstract concepts where "deriving" or "obtaining" might be more appropriate, as "extracting" often implies a tangible separation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "extracting" is that of a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses (e.g., "They are extracting oil") or as a gerund functioning as a noun (e.g., "Extracting resources can be challenging"). As Ludwig AI indicates, this term is generally considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extracting" is a versatile and commonly used verb form, functioning primarily as a present participle or gerund. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its core meaning involves obtaining or removing something from a source, appearing frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business and Scientific contexts. Related terms include "removing", "deriving", and "drawing out", offering nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. When using "extracting", ensure clarity regarding both the source and the extracted substance, and consider alternatives when describing purely abstract processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Drawing out

Emphasizes the process of carefully pulling or coaxing something from a source.

Eliciting

Specifically refers to drawing out a response, reaction, or information from someone.

Deriving

Suggests obtaining something from a source, often in the context of information or benefit.

Removing

Focuses on the action of taking something away, often implying a more physical separation.

Pulling

A more generic term for taking something from a place or source by force or effort

Withdrawing

Focuses on taking something back or away, often from a limited source.

Obtaining

Implies gaining possession of something, often through effort or a specific process.

Siphoning

Indicates a subtle or gradual removal of something, often liquid or resources.

Recovering

Suggests retrieving something that was lost or hidden.

Harvesting

Implies gathering something that has been grown or cultivated, often on a large scale.

FAQs

How can I use "extracting" in a sentence?

You can use "extracting" to describe the process of removing or obtaining something from a source. For example, "The chemist was extracting compounds from the plant" or "They are "extracting information" from the data."

What words can I use instead of "extracting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "obtaining", "deriving", "removing", or "drawing out".

Is it correct to say "extracting data" or "extracting information"?

Both phrases are correct and commonly used. "Extracting data" refers to retrieving specific data points, while "extracting information" implies gaining insights or knowledge from a larger dataset.

What's the difference between "extracting" and "mining" when referring to data?

"Extracting" typically involves retrieving specific, known data, while "data mining" involves exploring large datasets to discover new patterns and information. Mining is more exploratory.