filling this time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "filling this time" is not correct in standard written English and lacks clarity.
It may be intended to convey the idea of occupying or utilizing a specific period, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "I will be filling this time with productive activities while I wait for my appointment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Golden bags — fried wontons with another ground chicken filling, this time with chili sauce — were addictive.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Down the road at Schuman Roundabout, another building is being filled, this time by the E.U.'s new diplomatic corps.

The New York Times

Dismayed, I ploughed through the sports section, filled this time of year with reporting on college football and the baseball playoffs.Then I found the "Around Iowa" page of the Metro section.

The Economist

We fill this time, we middle-aged male duffers anyway, with banter and insults, the same mindless chatter we employ whenever we don't have much to say, and when we play with women we're at a loss.

The New York Times - Magazine

To fill this time with productive learning opportunities, CSAIL came up with WaitSuite, a collection of apps that work on desktop or mobile, offering up educational micro-moments where you can brush up on second language vocab skills and more in the time between everything else.

TechCrunch

Like these works of art, more than anything you have done up to this point, how you fill this time may very well be the biggest influence in your next chapters.

Huffington Post

There is evidence however that clinicians may fill this time with clinical work as they are more comfortable in doing that than research [ 26].

BMC Medical Education

Within the oral antidiabetic drug therapy initiators, we produced unadjusted cumulative probability curves of time to first prescription since diagnosis, time to filling this first prescription, and time to discontinuation of medication use, all stratified by race.

BMC Health Services Research

And so it went on for a while, filling this space in time with countless versions of the young girl and the woman watching her, all slightly different as each new one was aware of what had happened before.

Huffington Post

HA alone produced minimal defect filling in this time frame.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"Sears will have a very tough time filling this job," said Bill Dreher, a retail analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, specify the activity that is "filling" the time. For instance, instead of saying "filling this time", state what you are doing: "I am using this time to study".

Common error

Avoid using "filling this time" without specifying what is occupying the time. Unclear phrasing can confuse your reader, use a more specific verb. Instead of "filling this time", clarify the action, such as "utilizing this time" or "spending this time studying".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "filling this time" acts as a gerund phrase, often functioning as a noun. It describes the action of occupying a particular time span. The Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard written English and lacks clarity.

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 "filling this time" is not considered correct in standard written English and may lack clarity in many situations, as pointed out by the Ludwig AI. While examples can be found, primarily in news and scientific contexts, its vagueness suggests that more precise language should be used. Alternatives like "using this time" or "spending this time" often provide greater clarity. When employing this phrase, ensure you specify what activity is occupying the time. Due to its imprecise nature, the phrase is not suitable for formal writing and you should always use a more accurate form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

using this time

Emphasizes the act of utilizing the time.

occupying this time

Highlights the act of taking up the time.

spending this time

Focuses on how the time is being passed.

employing this time

Suggests a more deliberate and strategic use of the time.

devoting this time

Indicates dedicating the time to a specific purpose.

filling this slot

Changes "time" with "slot" and implies scheduling.

utilizing this period

Replaces "time" with "period" and sounds more formal.

making use of this time

Adds an emphasis on actively benefiting from the time.

passing this time

Highlights the action of getting through a period.

taking up this time

Focuses on the idea of consuming or occupying the time.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "filling this time"?

More precise alternatives include "using this time", "spending this time", or "occupying this time", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I make "filling this time" clearer in my writing?

Always specify what action is "filling" the time. For instance, instead of "filling this time", say "filling this time with research" or "filling this time with meetings".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "filling this time"?

While not strictly incorrect, it is generally better to use a more precise verb to describe how the time is being used. Consider replacing it with a stronger verb.

Is "filling this time" considered formal or informal language?

Due to its somewhat vague nature and the availability of more precise alternatives, "filling this time" is better suited for informal contexts, if used at all.