if existing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if existing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can typically be used to introduce a hypothetical situation. For example, "If existing laws were followed, the environmental crisis would be greatly reduced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If existing, more information about this score would be welcome.

The New York Times - Arts

Continuous water-table (WT) measurements from peatlands are scarce and – if existing at all –very short.

Journal of Hydrology

If existing customers buy online at a discounted price, it will eat into her margins.

The Guardian - Books

If existing trends continue they will soon be more efficient than tubes.

The Economist

But it would also help if existing ones were distributed to those who need them.

The Economist

Note, that volatiles – if existing – would affect the outcome by influencing all units across a microclimate.

Nature

Many of those deaths could be avoided — if existing technologies would just be put to use.

The New York Times

But the official reply was that the plan was unworkable if existing train service patterns were to be maintained.

The Guardian

It is unlikely that companies will spend capital to increase production capacity if existing facilities are not being fully used.

The New York Times

To some extent, job losses will be avoided if existing staff were to forego increases in their earnings.

The Guardian - Opinion

She said if existing regulations had been met there, "I don't think the lives would have been lost".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if existing", ensure the context clearly establishes what 'existing' refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the conditional statement.

Common error

Avoid using "if existing" without clearly defining what is supposed to exist. Vague references can confuse readers. Be specific about the subject in question.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if existing" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a conditional clause. It modifies the main clause by setting a condition based on the presence or prior establishment of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

58%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if existing" serves as a concise conditional phrase, indicating that a statement or action depends on the prior presence of something. As Ludwig AI clarifies, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. It finds frequent application in news media, scientific literature, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it is crucial to ensure the reference of "existing" is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "assuming it exists" or "provided it exists" can offer greater explicitness when needed. Overall, "if existing" is a valuable tool for expressing conditional dependencies when used thoughtfully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assuming it exists

This alternative explicitly states the condition of existence.

provided it exists

Similar to 'assuming', this emphasizes the provision of existence as a condition.

should it exist

This phrase is more formal and hypothetical.

in the event that it exists

This expresses a less likely scenario.

if it is already present

This emphasizes the current presence of something.

where applicable

This alternative implies conditional existence based on relevance.

if there is any

Focuses on possibility more than existence itself.

contingent on its presence

Highlights that something else is dependent on its existence.

given its existence

This sets the existence as a known condition.

presuming its presence

This suggests something exists and can be used or evaluated

FAQs

How can I use "if existing" in a sentence?

Use "if existing" to set a condition based on the presence or prior establishment of something. For example, "The project will proceed "if existing" resources are sufficient."

What is an alternative to "if existing"?

Alternatives include "assuming it exists", "provided it exists", or "should it exist", depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "if existing" or "if it exists"?

While both are correct, "if existing" is more concise when the subject is clearly understood from the context. "If it exists" provides more explicit clarity, especially when the subject might be unclear.

When should I use "if existing" over other similar phrases?

Use "if existing" when you want to imply a condition based on something already established or available. It's best used when the 'something' is evident from the surrounding text. Otherwise, use a more explicit phrasing like "if the resource exists".