far in passing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far in passing" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where someone is mentioning something briefly or in a casual manner, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "He mentioned the project far in passing during the meeting, so I didn't catch all the details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Many Republicans are ruefully admitting that the House went much too far in passing the Ryan plan last month.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Alabama is far from alone in passing a law whose express aim is misery and panic.

The New York Times

I mention these oddities because this week, I want to resume my obsession with mutations, and look explicitly at a type that I've so far mentioned only in passing: beneficial mutations.

The New York Times

"Their middle linebacker was not dropping back very far in pass coverage, and we felt we could hit it over his head and I could outrun the last defenders.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Aaronovitch says that it was obvious that "sites endorsing 9/11 conspiracy theories and those subscribing to them in passing far outnumbered sites devoted to debunking or refuting such theories".

The New York Times - Books

But the irony of the story that Obama likes to tell is that it took another generation before Martin Luther King, Jr. "made" L.B.J. take the lead in passing far more meaningful bills on fundamental civil rights and voting rights.

The New Yorker

Against the background of a northern factory run by a company called Mackintosh Textiles, Abbott used a dramatist's equivalent of the movements of a camera: one character was in big close-up every week with people from previous episodes seen in passing or the far distance.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We mention in passing that so far the rice blast fungus M. grisea has been denoted as Sordariomycetes incertae sedis, i. e., not being designated to an existing order.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

As of late September, more than 500 people had been killed in Chicago so far this year, passing the city's total for all of 2015, and more than 3,000 people have been shot.

The New York Times

It is difficult to walk very far in Manhattan without passing a bank branch or two, as well as someone sighing that, thanks to the banks, every street now looks the same.

The New York Times

It seems you can never get far without passing a landmark that appears in the novel.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey a brief or casual mention, use established phrases like "mentioned in passing" or "briefly noted" instead of the less common combination, "far in passing".

Common error

Avoid creating novel combinations of words, especially when established idiomatic alternatives exist. Sticking to standard expressions ensures clarity and avoids confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far in passing" does not have a clearly defined grammatical function because it's not a standard expression. However, based on the individual words, it seems intended to modify a verb, suggesting the manner or extent of an action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far in passing" is an uncommon expression that may not be readily understood. While it appears in a few contexts such as News & Media and Science, Ludwig AI flags that it may cause confusion. For clearer and more effective communication, established alternatives like "mentioned in passing" or "briefly mentioned" are recommended. Sticking to these idiomatic expressions enhances comprehension and avoids ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mentioned in passing

Implies a casual and not very important reference to something.

briefly mentioned

This suggests a casual and concise reference, lacking depth.

casually noted

Indicates a light, informal observation without detailed discussion.

fleetingly referenced

Conveys a short and quick mention, almost imperceptible.

perfunctorily remarked

Suggests a superficial comment done more out of obligation than interest.

tangentially alluded to

Implies an indirect reference, relating to the topic but not centrally.

incidentally cited

Indicates that something was referenced by chance or as a side note.

cursorily touched upon

Suggests a brief exploration of a topic, without going into details.

superficially addressed

Implies a lack of depth or thoroughness in discussing a topic.

lightly touched on

Refers to a quick handling of a topic without much analysis or focus.

FAQs

What does "far in passing" mean?

The phrase "far in passing" isn't a standard English expression. If you're looking for a similar meaning, you might consider using phrases like "mentioned in passing" or "briefly mentioned" instead.

How can I use "mentioned in passing" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The speaker mentioned in passing that the project was behind schedule, but didn't elaborate on the reasons why."

Are there more formal alternatives to "far in passing"?

While "far in passing" isn't typically used, more formal alternatives to expressing a brief mention include "tangentially alluded to" or "perfunctorily remarked", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "far in passing" grammatically correct?

While individual words may be grammatically sound, the combination "far in passing" is not a recognized or commonly used phrase in English. Using established idioms is recommended for clarity.