in the course of

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the course of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean during the progress of a particular time period, event, or activity. For example, "In the course of my research, I made a few interesting discoveries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the course of Foreign Svc.

The New Yorker

In the course of yesterday [Aug.

The New York Times

Soc., in the course of publication.

Nature

In the course of this class.

Yale University

In the course of its investigations..

Cornell University

Knowledge is developed in the course of superstructure optimisation.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

The project was successfully delivered in the course of 2009.

Control Engineering Practice

Has the novel dated in the course of a century?

The Guardian - Books

The Cartoon Lounge: When in the Course of Human Events..

The New Yorker

This is a world in the course of choosing.

The Guardian

In the course of history, what's a few years?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the course of" to indicate that something happens during a specific event or period. It adds a formal tone and emphasizes the progression of time.

Common error

Avoid confusing "in the course of" with "of course". "In the course of" refers to a time period or process, while "of course" means certainly or obviously.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the course of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate when something happens. As supported by Ludwig, it specifies the timing of an event within a larger process or duration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

23%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the course of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to specify when something occurs within a defined time or event. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it enjoys very common usage across various domains, especially in News & Media, Science, and Academic writing. When writing, remember that while phrases like "during" and "throughout" can serve as simpler alternatives, "in the course of" often provides a more formal and nuanced indication of timing. Avoid confusing it with "of course", and use it to add precision and clarity to your writing. As Ludwig's AI indicates, this phrase is a staple in formal and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during

This alternative is a more concise and direct way of saying something happened at some point within a specified period.

throughout

This alternative emphasizes the continuity of an action or state across the entirety of a period.

over the period of

This alternative is slightly more formal and emphasizes the duration of the time involved.

in the duration of

This alternative highlights an action that occurs during the complete length of something.

while

This alternative is a simple conjunction to introduce an action happening at the same time.

as

This alternative works when describing something happening simultaneously with another event.

during the time of

This alternative specifies that something occurs within a particular era or moment.

in the process of

This alternative emphasizes that an action is happening as part of a sequence of steps.

amidst

This alternative highlights something happening in the middle of chaotic or turbulent events.

within the timeframe of

This alternative emphasizes the limits of time when an event can or should occur.

FAQs

How can I use "in the course of" in a sentence?

Use "in the course of" to describe when something happens during an event or period. For example, "In the course of the investigation, we uncovered new evidence."

What are some alternatives to "in the course of"?

You can use alternatives such as "during", "throughout", or "while" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in course of" instead of "in the course of"?

While "in course of" might be understood, "in the course of" is the more standard and grammatically correct phrase.

What is the difference between "in the course of" and "during"?

"In the course of" often implies a longer duration or a more formal context, whereas "during" is more general and can be used for shorter periods.