in tandem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in tandem" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic phrase that means "in cooperation with another or others; in agreement or coordination". For example: He and I worked in tandem to finish the project on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Property development surged in tandem.

The Economist

They can work in tandem.

The Economist

You will change in tandem.

The New York Times

Audiences are growing in tandem.

The New York Times - Arts

We loved in tandem.

The New Yorker

They work in tandem".

The New York Times

The daredevils, in tandem, irritated civic officials.

The New Yorker

And the cost has risen in tandem.

The New York Times

When do they work well in tandem?

The New York Times

Currency and commodity prices fell in tandem.

The New York Times

Instead they seemed to move in tandem".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in tandem" to clearly convey that two or more entities are working together in a coordinated way to achieve a common goal or outcome. It emphasizes the synchronized nature of the actions.

Common error

Avoid using "in tandem" when actions are simply simultaneous but not coordinated. Ensure the entities are deliberately working together, not just happening to act at the same time.

Linguistic Context

The adverbial phrase "in tandem" modifies verbs, adverbs, or clauses, indicating that actions are performed together or simultaneously in a coordinated manner. Ludwig shows that it describes how activities or processes occur.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in tandem" is a versatile adverbial phrase that signifies coordinated or simultaneous action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It's often employed to highlight synchronized efforts, especially in contexts such as news, science, and business. When using "in tandem", ensure that the actions described are not merely simultaneous but deliberately coordinated towards a common objective. Alternatives such as "together" or "simultaneously" lack the implication of intentional coordination. Remember, "in tandem" underscores the collaborative and synchronized nature of the activities it describes. Ludwig's examples show its application across diverse reputable sources, reinforcing its acceptability and utility in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in conjunction

Highlights the joint action or cooperation between entities, similar to "in tandem", but often implies a more formal arrangement.

in cooperation

Emphasizes the collaborative aspect of working together, differing slightly from the possibly independent, yet synchronized, action of "in tandem".

in unison

Implies perfect agreement and simultaneous execution, which can be more restrictive than "in tandem".

together

Expresses a general sense of unity or simultaneous action, lacking the nuanced coordination implied by "in tandem".

in partnership

Suggests a formal agreement to work together, which is a stronger commitment than simply working "in tandem".

jointly

Simply indicates something is done together, without specifying the nature or degree of coordination.

simultaneously

Focuses on the timing of events, indicating they happen at the same time, but does not necessarily imply coordination.

hand in hand

Suggests a close, supportive collaboration, often implying a more emotional connection than "in tandem".

concurrently

Similar to "simultaneously", focusing on timing, but less on coordination or collaboration.

side by side

Suggests physical proximity and simultaneous action, but may lack the implication of coordinated effort.

FAQs

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

You can use "in tandem" to describe activities that are happening together and are coordinated. For example, "The marketing and sales teams worked "in tandem" to launch the new product."

What are some alternatives to "in tandem"?

Alternatives to "in tandem" include "together", "simultaneously", or "in conjunction". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "work in tandem with"?

While grammatically sound, "work in tandem with" can be redundant as "in tandem" already implies a collaborative effort. You can simply say "work "in tandem"" for a more concise statement.

What is the difference between "in tandem" and "simultaneously"?

"In tandem" implies coordinated action towards a common goal, while "simultaneously" simply means occurring at the same time without necessarily implying any coordination.