giving a lecture

USAGE SUMMARY

'giving a lecture' is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
Example sentence: Professor Wright is giving a lecture about environmental politics in the lecture hall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I was there, giving a lecture.

The Guardian - Film

"It's great giving a lecture to 200 children.

Independent

Voekel was giving a lecture about the pre-colonial Americas.

The New Yorker

I was giving a lecture shortly after 7/7 when a participant arrived late.

Independent

It doesn't know if I'm giving a lecture or watching a movie," says Schwarz.

The Guardian - Tech

The writer recalls giving a lecture at a Women's City Club in Texas.

The New Yorker

Buckley recalled meeting Viereck in the mid-fifties, after giving a lecture at Smith.

The New Yorker

The event was immortalised by Salvador Dali giving a lecture in a deep-sea diving suit.

The Guardian

At the beginning of February he suffered a stroke while giving a lecture in Paris.

The Guardian

· Dr Briffa is giving a lecture on children's health and nutrition in London on 30 May.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A few years ago I was giving a lecture to new social work students.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "giving a lecture" when you want to emphasize the act of presenting information in a formal, structured manner. It's suitable for academic, professional, and general contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "giving a lecture" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler phrases like "talking about" or "explaining" when communicating with friends or family.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "giving a lecture" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the activity of presenting information in a structured, formal manner, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "giving a lecture" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of formally presenting information. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. While primarily found in news, scientific, and wiki contexts, its formality makes it suitable for academic and professional settings as well. Alternatives like "delivering a lecture" or "presenting a lecture" offer similar meanings, but the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to consider your audience and the overall tone when using this phrase to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delivering a lecture

Replaces the verb "giving" with "delivering", emphasizing the act of presentation.

presenting a lecture

Uses "presenting" instead of "giving", focusing on the act of showing or displaying information.

conducting a lecture

Employs "conducting" to highlight the management or direction of the lecture.

lecturing

A shortened, gerund form of "giving a lecture".

holding a lecture

Uses "holding" which emphasizes the action of organizing and maintaining the lecture.

offering a lecture

Substituting "giving" with "offering", suggesting a voluntary provision of the lecture.

providing a lecture

Substituting "giving" with "providing", highlighting the act of supplying knowledge.

addressing an audience

Focuses on the act of speaking to a group, which may or may not be a formal lecture.

holding a seminar

Replacing "lecture" with "seminar", indicating a more interactive and discussion-based presentation.

making a presentation

Shifting the focus to a general presentation, which could include a lecture.

FAQs

How can I use "giving a lecture" in a sentence?

"Giving a lecture" typically describes the action of presenting information formally. For example, "She is giving a lecture on quantum physics" or "He enjoys giving a lecture to enthusiastic students."

What are some alternatives to "giving a lecture"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "delivering a lecture", "presenting a lecture", or simply "lecturing".

Is it better to say "giving a lecture" or "delivering a lecture"?

Both "giving a lecture" and "delivering a lecture" are correct and largely interchangeable. "Delivering a lecture" might sound slightly more formal, but the difference is minimal.

What is the difference between "giving a lecture" and "giving a presentation"?

"Giving a lecture" typically implies a more formal and structured presentation of information, often in an academic or professional setting. "Giving a presentation" is a broader term that can encompass various types of presentations, not necessarily lectures.