in affirming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in affirming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of confirming or supporting a statement, belief, or decision. Example: "In affirming the committee's decision, the chairperson emphasized the importance of transparency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

But nor should you dig in, affirming 100% of what our grandparents affirmed, without changing anything.

The Economist

A 4-to-4 tie would result in affirming the appeals court's ruling.

The New York Times

Dr. Marton is also right in affirming that serious psychiatric disorders represent "brain disease".

The New York Times - Science

The rule of law in affirming that this is a hate incident must be upheld".

The Guardian

Her supporters say the ruling merely followed precedent in affirming a lower court.

The New York Times

In affirming the Second Circuit today, the court gave Mr. St.

The New York Times

"In affirming that black lives matter, we need not qualify our position," the statement reads.

The New Yorker

The discovery of this law was especially significant in affirming natural selection as the primary mechanism of evolution.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Supreme Court, long dubious of the Miranda ruling, sent Congress a message about turf in affirming it.

The New York Times

One of the organisation's 13 guiding principles is: "In affirming that black lives matter, we need not qualify our position".

The Guardian

In affirming its "right" to free speech, Charlie Hebdo has used a blunt instrument to smash apart a genuine moment of hope and togetherness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in affirming" to clearly indicate that an action is being taken to support or confirm something, often a principle, decision, or statement. It's most effective when followed by a noun or noun phrase that specifies what is being affirmed.

Common error

Avoid using "in affirming" when a simpler word like "affirming" or "confirming" would suffice. Overusing prepositional phrases can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex and verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in affirming" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a gerund. Ludwig examples show it setting the stage for an action or decision that supports or validates something. It often specifies the manner or context in which something is being affirmed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in affirming" is a prepositional phrase functioning to introduce an action of support or validation. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic sources. While versatile, "in affirming" should be used deliberately to avoid wordiness, as simpler alternatives might sometimes be more appropriate. The abundance of examples provided by Ludwig highlight its role in conveying agreement and reinforcing established principles or decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by affirming

Focuses on the action of affirming as a means to achieve something.

while affirming

Highlights that the affirmation occurs simultaneously with another action.

when affirming

Emphasizes the timing or circumstance of the affirmation.

through affirming

Suggests affirmation as a method or process.

by asserting

Implies a stronger, more declarative form of affirmation.

upon affirming

Indicates that something happens immediately after the affirmation.

in validating

Focuses on the act of confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

in upholding

Suggests maintaining or defending something that has already been established.

in confirming

Highlights the act of verifying or establishing something as true.

in endorsing

Implies formal approval or support.

FAQs

How can I use "in affirming" in a sentence?

Use "in affirming" to show support or agreement with something. For instance, "The court, in affirming the lower court's decision, emphasized the importance of precedent."

What phrases can replace "in affirming"?

Consider alternatives such as "in confirming", "by affirming", or "in upholding depending on the specific context".

Is there a difference between "in affirming" and "affirming"?

"In affirming" is a prepositional phrase that sets the context for the action, while "affirming" is a gerund or participle that directly expresses the action. For example, "In affirming the treaty, the president signaled a commitment to peace" versus "Affirming the treaty, the president signaled a commitment to peace."

When is it better to use a simpler phrase instead of "in affirming"?

If the "in" doesn't add specific contextual value, a simpler term like "confirming" or "supporting" might be clearer and more concise. For instance, you might say "Supporting the proposal" instead of "In affirming the proposal" if the "in" is redundant.