in the course of preparing

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the course of preparing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to mean that something was done during or while something else was being done. For example: "In the course of preparing for the presentation, I realized I was missing several key pieces of information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

While digging through government documents in the course of preparing for that trial, Ebadi encountered the official authorization for her own assassination.

The New York Times - Books

What I found shocking was this: in the course of preparing Mr Marri's case I travelled to Karachi to interview victims of state torture.

The Guardian

Yet a reporter who called the Embassy to discuss the same information in the course of preparing a story — thus violating the same statute — would almost certainly not be prosecuted.

The New Yorker

In August, after the plaintiffs obtained hospital records and e-mails in the course of preparing their case, the doctors amended their complaint, accusing the hospital of violating equal-protection rights and discriminating against them based on race.

The New York Times

(Sulcas) Regina Nejman & Company (Saturday and Sunday) "I Don't Have a Title Yet!" That's what scores of choreographers have exclaimed over the years in the course of preparing premieres.

The New York Times - Arts

In the course of preparing the latter, Jerome realized the futility of revising the Old Latin solely on the basis of the Greek and apparently left that task unfinished.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Braun issued his own denial on Tuesday night, saying in a written statement that during the course of preparing for the appeal of his positive test last year, "my attorneys, who were previously familiar with Tony Bosch, used him as a consultant".

The New York Times - Sports

In the course of his preparing for a drama review, Hazlitt was in the habit of reading or rereading the play he was soon to see, and his reviews came to include extensive commentary on the plays themselves, turning rapidly from dramatic criticism to literary criticism.

Wikipedia

The administration has been demanding that Congress first approve the continuation of a program that assists American workers who lose jobs in the course of expanding trade by preparing them for new careers in faster-growing industries.

Huffington Post

In the course of the year that Daniel Day-Lewis prepared to play Lincoln, Mr. Kushner worked with him on shaping the president's oratory.

The New York Times

Vocabulary is the linchpin to literacy, and a child who enters school with a vocabulary of 22,000 words, learned in the course of normal conversation, is well prepared to be a successful learner.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the course of preparing" to clearly indicate that an action occurred as a direct result of the preparation process. This phrase provides a formal and precise way to link actions to their preparatory context.

Common error

While "in the course of preparing" is grammatically sound, avoid overuse in informal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "while preparing" or "during preparation" often improve clarity and tone in casual writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the course of preparing" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun. It indicates the temporal context of an action, specifying that the action took place during the preparation for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct to use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

29%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the course of preparing" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action occurs during the preparation process. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While versatile, it tends toward a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for academic, scientific, and news contexts. Simpler alternatives like "while preparing" or "during preparation" may be preferable in more casual writing. The phrase is commonly found in authoritative sources like The New York Times and scientific journals, reflecting its reliability and widespread use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while preparing

This alternative is shorter and more direct, omitting the formal tone of "in the course of".

during preparation

This alternative shifts the focus to the preparation phase itself, rather than the specific act of preparing.

as part of the preparation

This alternative emphasizes that the action is one component of a larger preparation process.

while getting ready

This alternative is more informal, replacing "preparing" with the phrasal verb "getting ready".

in the process of getting ready

This alternative has a similar meaning but is more emphatic.

during the build-up

This alternative works best when referring to a specific event.

in anticipation of preparing

This alternative highlights the anticipation aspect more than the actual preparation.

as we prepared

Changes from a general statement to a more specific instance.

in readiness for preparing

This alternative highlights the state of being ready to act.

while undertaking preparation

This shifts emphasis to the undertaking of the preparation process, adding a more formal tone.

FAQs

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

Use "in the course of preparing" to indicate that something happened during the preparation for a task. For example, "In the course of preparing the presentation, I discovered new data".

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

You can use alternatives like "while preparing", "during preparation", or "as part of the preparation" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "in the course of preparing", or are there simpler options?

While grammatically correct, "in the course of preparing" can sound overly formal. Consider simpler options like "while preparing" or "during preparation" for more casual contexts.

What's the difference between "in the course of preparing" and "during preparing"?

"In the course of preparing" is a more formal and complete phrase. "During preparing" is grammatically incorrect; you should use "during preparation" or "while preparing" instead.