in running water

USAGE SUMMARY

"in running water" is a perfectly grammatical phrase to use in written English.
You can use it to refer to water that is moving, as opposed to still water. For example, you could say, "I love to go swimming in running water."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Be sure to scrub the shells first in running water to remove any sand or grit.

The New York Times - Food

Crowds of Indonesian men stand knee-deep in running water working their jigs.

The Economist

Cook the pasta until tender, then drain and rinse it in running water until cool.

The New York Times - Food

Rinse the chickpeas in running water then tip them into the foil-lined baking tin.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Someday, they'll build wireless Internet into every building, just the way they build in running water, heat and electricity today.

The New York Times - Tech

She said her fruit cocktail tasted as if someone had rinsed it in running water and squeezed it dry.

The New York Times - Health

Fish have preferences too: some live in running water, while others, even of the same species, like it still.

The New York Times - Science

Bundles were soaked in running water overnight.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

"Casting a fly in running water puts you into the zone," he says.

Forbes

The rice seeds were soaked in running water for 48 h, then sprout at 37 °C for 24 h.

Rice

Immediately after extraction, the teeth were washed in running water, and all blood and adherent tissue were removed.

Progress in Orthodontics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in running water" to describe processes where continuous flow is important. For example, "The experiment required the sample to be kept in running water to maintain a consistent temperature."

Common error

Avoid using "in running water" when describing soaking or immersing something in still water. Running water implies a continuous flow that removes impurities or maintains a specific condition, unlike static immersion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in running water" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to specify the manner or condition in which an action is performed. This is consistent with examples from Ludwig that describe actions like rinsing, washing, or keeping objects under a continuous flow of water.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in running water" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that specifies an action is performed under a continuous flow of water. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical validity and widespread use. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase serves to provide specific details about cleaning, rinsing, or maintaining objects. To ensure clarity, use it when continuous water flow is essential and avoid substituting it for static water immersion. By following these guidelines, you can effectively incorporate "in running water" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under flowing water

This alternative emphasizes the continuous movement of the water, similar to "in running water".

under running tap

This specifies a tap as the source of the running water.

rinsing with tap water

This highlights the action of rinsing using water from a tap.

washing with flowing water

This emphasizes the act of washing something using moving water.

flushing with fresh water

This implies a more forceful action of cleaning with a stream of fresh water.

exposed to a water stream

This focuses on the object being subjected to a flow of water.

subjected to running water

This phrase denotes exposure to water that is currently flowing.

under a stream of water

This emphasizes water flowing as stream.

with a current of water

This focuses on the presence of water current.

in a flowing stream

This refers to water within a moving river stream

FAQs

How can I use "in running water" in a sentence?

You can use "in running water" to describe rinsing, washing, or keeping something under a continuous flow of water. For example, "Rinse the vegetables "in running water" before cooking."

What are some alternatives to saying "in running water"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "under "flowing water"", "rinsing with "tap water"", or "washing with "fresh water"".

Is it more appropriate to say "in running water" or "under running water"?

Both "in running water" and "under running water" are acceptable, but "in running water" is more commonly used in general contexts. "Under running water" might emphasize the positioning of the object relative to the water source.

When is it important to specify "in running water" instead of just "water"?

Specify "in running water" when the continuous flow of water is crucial for the process, such as removing contaminants, maintaining temperature, or preventing buildup. This distinguishes it from soaking or rinsing in static water.