foregoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "foregoing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that has been mentioned or described previously in a text or conversation. Example: "In light of the foregoing discussion, we can conclude that further research is necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

NEXT month the shareholders of British Airways will enjoy the services of the firm's embattled boss and finance chief, free of charge, as the pair do their bit to cut costs by foregoing a month's wages.

The Economist

As prices rise and disposable incomes are squeezed, shoppers are foregoing car journeys to out-of-town supermarkets and expensive nights out, staying at home with a couple of DVDs and food and wine from their local grocer.In this section Closer and closer to home Death of a one-trick pony A poisoned chalice?

The Economist

By foregoing a full environmental review, taking a direct route, and leaving out clean-up measures, the state has built a 14-mile drainage channel for only $28m.

The Economist

Mr Grinstein himself is foregoing any payout from Delta's emergence from bankruptcy, citing a "tacit understanding" that he would not benefit from sacrifices made by the staff.

The Economist

Robert Rubin, the treasury secretary, argued recently that, thanks to NAFTA, Mexico had reacted to the peso crisis by foregoing the use of tariff increases, unlike in previous crises.In fact, Mexico put more than 500 of its tariffs up.

The Economist

Foregoing such spending now can be costly further down the line.

The Economist

Fideism claims that truths of a certain kind can be grasped only by foregoing rational inquiry and relying solely on faith.

SEP

The strongest versions of all these composition principles are obtained by asserting them as axiom schemas holding for every condition ψ, i.e., effectively, by foregoing any reference to ψ altogether.

SEP

In such cases, public health authorities must decide whether a commitment to social justice requires foregoing an efficient, targeted program in favor of a relatively inefficient, universal program that also may produce less improvement in health for the disadvantaged group (thus failing to narrow unjust inequalities) in order to avoid exacerbating existing disrespectful social attitudes.

SEP

Hip-hop has been heading in this direction for a while, pushing beats that are sparse and weird and foregoing big hooks sung by the likes of Rihanna, and now that sound has begun to manifest itself in pop's coolest tracks.

The Guardian - Music

They now know how much revenue they are foregoing when production is reined back.Second, the destruction of Kuwait and Iraq has created a potent and lasting source of discord within OPEC.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foregoing" to refer back to something that has already been mentioned, ensuring clarity and conciseness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "foregoing" to introduce a topic that will be discussed later. "Foregoing" refers to something already mentioned, while "preceding" introduces what comes next.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "foregoing" is as a present participle or gerund form of the verb 'forego', indicating an action of giving up or abstaining from something. It also functions as an adjective, meaning 'preceding' or 'aforementioned', as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foregoing" is a versatile term that acts as a present participle or an adjective. As Ludwig AI indicates, its primary function is to reference something mentioned previously or to describe the act of giving something up. It is commonly found in formal contexts, such as academic writing, news reports, and business communications. Understanding its proper usage, as detailed in the writing guidance, ensures clarity and precision in writing. While alternatives exist, "foregoing" provides a unique tone appropriate for many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

renouncing

Implies a formal rejection or abandonment of something previously held or claimed; often used in the context of rights or beliefs.

sacrificing

Suggests giving up something valued for the sake of something else considered more important.

waiving

Refers to voluntarily giving up a legal right or claim.

relinquishing

Indicates surrendering or letting go of something, often power or control.

ceding

Formally handing over control or possession of something.

forfeiting

Losing something as a penalty for wrongdoing or failure to meet certain conditions.

ceding

Giving up power or territory

eschewing

Deliberately avoiding using something.

skipping

Omitting or bypassing something.

passing up

Declining an opportunity or offer.

FAQs

How is "foregoing" typically used in a sentence?

The word "foregoing" is used to refer back to something previously mentioned. For example, "In light of the "foregoing" discussion, we can conclude...".

What can I say instead of "foregoing" to mean 'giving up' something?

You can use alternatives like "renouncing", "sacrificing", or "relinquishing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "foregoing reasons" or "preceding reasons" when referring to reasons already stated?

"Foregoing reasons" is the correct choice when referring to reasons that have already been mentioned. "Preceding reasons" could imply the reasons are about to be stated.

Is "foregoing" more formal than alternatives like "giving up"?

Yes, "foregoing" is generally considered more formal than alternatives such as "giving up" or "skipping". It is often used in legal, academic, and business contexts.