ferrying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ferrying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of transporting people or goods across a body of water, typically by boat or ferry. Example: "The company specializes in ferrying passengers between the islands during the summer months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An occasional military truck or a Humvee speeds in the opposite direction, ferrying the injured and dead, passing the wreckage of an artillery piece, a blown-up turret from a Humvee and a great multitude of mangled metal objects.

The Guardian

Polo Ralph Lauren held a spectacular Manhattan-style garden party in Central Park, with golf buggies ferrying guests to fountain-side champagne bars, and a 4D catwalk show that projected holographic images of the Polo collection above the lake, with the Manhattan skyline behind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The rescue helicopter will have to make seven flights to the Shokalskiy in total, ferrying the passengers to a Chinese icebreaker about 20 minutes away by air.

The Guardian

"This becomes blatantly obvious in the case of birds who are ferrying food to the nest as busily as they can," he says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At Cafe Toscana on Schillerplatz, staff were ferrying plastic boxes of food from the kitchens to waiting vans to feed teams of workers operating throughout the city and beyond.

The Guardian

As fast as a speedboat ferrying A-listers down the Grand Canal, the first pictures of Amal Alamuddin's wedding dress have arrived – and as a statement of the couple's position within the Hollywood hierarchy, this is a gown that speaks a thousand words.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A cousin who ran a spaza and got Mr Abdullahi a job ferrying supplies was shot and killed a few months later in a robbery.In less than a year, a business partner with whom he opened a spaza in a small rural community was robbed and stabbed to death in his shop by a regular customer.

The Economist

One still occasionally hears grand talk of transporting water from the Missouri river, or of ferrying icebergs from Alaska, but these pipe dreams are giving way to a focus on conservation and reform.

The Economist

In the morning a convoy of ambulances screams past, ferrying the victims of the latest Israeli raid on the eastern Shijayiya district of the city.

The Economist

But it would perform a similar function of support as robotic cars crawled up and down it, ferrying people and equipment to and from the satellite whence they could depart into the cosmos.There are, of course, many obstacles to building such a lift.

The Economist

After that the child has to be manoeuvred into the best school, homework needs to be closely supervised and there is a lot of ferrying around for after-school activities.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ferrying" when the context involves regular or scheduled transport, especially across water or short distances. It adds a sense of routine or a dedicated service.

Common error

Avoid using "ferrying" for one-time or long-distance transportation. Words like "transporting" or "shipping" are more appropriate for such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ferrying" is that of a present participle or gerund of the verb "ferry". It describes an ongoing action of transporting something across a body of water or over a short distance. As Ludwig AI confirms, this term is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ferrying" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the act of transporting people or goods, typically across water or over a short distance. As Ludwig AI notes, it is correct and usable in written English. Its frequency is very common, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "ferrying", consider its connotations of routine or scheduled transport, and choose alternative terms like "transporting" or "conveying" for broader or less specific transport scenarios. Avoid overusing it in contexts where long-distance or one-time transportation is involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

transporting

Focuses on the act of moving something from one place to another, similar to "ferrying" but without the implication of using a specific vehicle or route.

conveying

Implies the transmission of something, whether physical or abstract, offering a broader scope than "ferrying".

shuttling

Suggests repeated trips between two points, emphasizing the back-and-forth nature of the transport.

hauling

Emphasizes the effort involved in transporting something heavy or bulky, often over a difficult distance.

delivering

Focuses on the act of bringing something to its final destination, highlighting the completion of the transport process.

carting

Suggests the use of a cart or similar vehicle for transportation, adding a specific detail to the action.

airlifting

Specifies transportation by air, often in emergency situations or when other routes are unavailable.

transferring

Implies moving something from one place or system to another, often with a focus on the change in location or ownership.

moving

A general term for changing the location of something, lacking the specific connotations of "ferrying".

shipping

Usually refers to transporting goods on a large scale, especially by sea, implying a more formal or commercial process.

FAQs

What does "ferrying" mean?

"Ferrying" means transporting people or goods, typically across a body of water, usually on a regular schedule or as a specific service.

What's the difference between "ferrying" and "transporting"?

"Ferrying" implies a regular, often short-distance transport, especially across water, whereas "transporting" is a broader term for moving something from one place to another, regardless of the method or distance.

When is it appropriate to use "ferrying" instead of "shipping"?

Use "ferrying" for smaller-scale, local transport, like a ferry service. "Shipping" is more suitable for large-scale, often international, transport of goods.

What are some alternatives to using the word "ferrying"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "transporting", "conveying", or "shuttling".