in meanwhile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in meanwhile" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "meanwhile," which is used to indicate that something is happening at the same time as something else. Example: "I will start cooking dinner; meanwhile, you can set the table."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

In "Meanwhile......

The New York Times - Books

What world is he living in?" Meanwhile, Sinclair thinks his Hackney book will probably do rather well.

The Guardian - Books

In early September, Uno Vesje, a harpist from Norway, agreed to wait to move in; meanwhile, he and his girlfriend would crash at the Norwegian Seamen's Church.

The New Yorker

In Meanwhile (the last essay in Landscapes) he notes that the word "horizon" has slipped out of view in political discourse.

The Guardian - Books

Hitman: Agent 47 is putting the hours in, meanwhile, climbing back up to fourth place with $11.4m scavenged from 72 territories.

The Guardian - Film

People call in all the time -- hence Mr. Tanen's indispensable answering machine -- all of them asking more or less the same question: "When can I come in?" Meanwhile, a group of customers in the shop continue talking music.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

In Edinburgh, meanwhile, festival season is in full swing.

Independent

In pharmacies, meanwhile, the evidence points in the opposite direction.

Human Resources for Health

In France and Italy meanwhile, business confidence diverged.

The Economist

Stock in Pfizer, meanwhile, rose 8percentt.

The New York Times

Public opinion in Uruguay, meanwhile, was divided.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "in meanwhile" in formal writing. Opt for the grammatically correct alternative, "meanwhile", to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Don't add the preposition "in" before "meanwhile". The word "meanwhile" already functions as an adverb indicating simultaneity; adding "in" creates a redundant and grammatically unsound phrase.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "in meanwhile" (though generally considered incorrect) is to serve as an adverbial phrase, aiming to indicate that something happens during the same period as something else. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's better to avoid this expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "in meanwhile" appears in various sources, it's generally regarded as grammatically incorrect. The accurate alternative is simply "meanwhile". Ludwig flags "in meanwhile" as not being correct in standard written English. Therefore, to maintain clarity and professionalism in writing, it is best to avoid "in meanwhile" and use "meanwhile", "in the meantime", or "at the same time" instead. These alternatives will ensure that your writing is both grammatically sound and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meanwhile

Omits the preposition "in", correcting the grammatical structure.

in the meantime

Replaces "meanwhile" with a similar phrase, maintaining the same meaning.

at the same time

Offers a more literal and less idiomatic alternative.

concurrently

Provides a more formal synonym for "at the same time".

simultaneously

Emphasizes the parallel nature of the actions or events.

during that period

Focuses on the duration of the intervening time.

in parallel

Highlights the simultaneous execution of different activities.

whilst

A British English synonym for "while", indicating simultaneous events.

as a stopgap

Indicates something serving as a temporary solution.

for the interim

Stresses the temporary nature of the situation.

FAQs

Is "in meanwhile" grammatically correct?

No, "in meanwhile" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and commonly accepted form is "meanwhile".

What does "meanwhile" mean, and how should I use it?

"Meanwhile" indicates something happening at the same time as another event. For example, "I'll prepare the presentation; "meanwhile", you can gather the necessary data."

What are some alternatives to "in meanwhile"?

Instead of "in meanwhile", use "meanwhile", "in the meantime", or "at the same time".

Why is "in meanwhile" often flagged as incorrect?

The phrase "in meanwhile" is redundant because "meanwhile" already includes the meaning of "in the meantime". Using both together is grammatically unsound.