in the midst of discussing

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the midst of discussing" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to describe something happening while other things are being discussed. For example, "In the midst of discussing the new policy, the team had to pause to answer a phone call from their boss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Coach Dick Jauron was in the midst of discussing the electric quality that Terrell Owens's presence brings to the Buffalo Bills when, as if on cue, a roar of cheers and shrieks erupted from the other side of the field.

The New York Times - Sports

A telephone call in the midst of discussing philosophy would inform Dummett that an East-African Asian attempting to enter Britain was about to be sent back, and transform Dummett from philosopher to activist, dashing to the airport to argue the case.

Independent

"We were in the midst of discussing it when West Ham came on and wanted to sign Stephen.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

All this was in the midst of our discussing moving in, spending our lives together, and all the good juicy romantic stuff that resulted from our cruise to South America on Holland America's ZanDaam which took us from California to Chile -- and that either makes or breaks a couple, right?

Huffington Post

And through it all, she keeps her cool, even when her cellphone continues to cut out in the midst of an interview to discuss the album.

Huffington Post

The new year started out with the looming fiscal cliff and in the midst of that deal, Congress discussed the impact of the resolution on the economic security of our nation.

Huffington Post

This shows that even when discussed in the midst of other important topics, genetics remained a key focus of discussion and debate relative to the other topics discussed.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Another group was in the midst of studying glycolysis and therefore discussed pathway flux and the role of rate-limiting steps in metabolism, concepts that students at other institutions did not mention.

CBE Life Sciences Education

On one visit, I saw children on a school field trip taking notes, a studious-looking Sikh taking photographs, a serviceman wandering around in fatigues, a gaggle of young women in the midst of wedding planning — all poking, exploring, discussing, debating and then continuing on their way to the subway, to dinner or to buy leopard-print thongs at Forever 21.

The New York Times

11e0f4fe-ece1-4863-bc34-e2e384cc46fb I have received complaints about recent articles in which unnamed sources were allowed to 1) accuse a real estate agent of racial discrimination, 2) provide a letter from a dead man in the midst of a political controversy, and 3) discuss the press strategy of a politician who seeks to manipulate reporters with, among other tactics, off-the-record phone calls.

The New York Times

For example, while the wisdom of a tax cut/hike in the midst of a period of growth/recession is discussed, the differences between a tax change's effects on a period of growth and its effects on a recession are ignored.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the midst of discussing" to add a sense of immediacy and ongoing action to your writing. It's particularly effective when describing events that interrupt or occur during a conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "in the midst of discussing" too frequently, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using simpler alternatives like "while discussing" or "during the discussion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the midst of discussing" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the temporal context in which an action occurs. Ludwig's examples show its use in setting the scene for an event that unfolds during an ongoing conversation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the midst of discussing" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to describe an action occurring during an ongoing conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from news, science, and other sources. While "in the midst of discussing" may not be as frequent as simpler alternatives like "while discussing", it adds a layer of context and immediacy to your writing. To avoid redundancy, consider using phrases like "during the discussion of" or "amidst discussions about" for variation. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively incorporate this phrase into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the process of discussing

Highlights the ongoing nature of the discussion.

while discussing

Simplifies the phrase to indicate simultaneous action.

amidst discussions about

Uses "amidst" as a synonym for "in the midst of", emphasizing the surrounding context of discussions.

during the discussion of

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a more direct reference to the discussion itself.

in the thick of a discussion about

Uses "thick of" to emphasize being deeply involved in the discussion.

while in conversation about

Emphasizes the conversational aspect of the discussion.

engaged in a discussion regarding

Presents a more formal and active involvement in the discussion.

as we were discussing

Adds a personal or narrative perspective to the ongoing discussion.

during our conversation about

Similar to "as we were discussing" but focuses on the conversation.

concluding the discussion on

Focuses on the final moments of the discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "in the midst of discussing" in a sentence?

You can use "in the midst of discussing" to indicate that something happened while a conversation was ongoing. For example: "We were "in the midst of discussing" the budget when the power went out."

What are some alternatives to "in the midst of discussing"?

Alternatives include "while discussing", "during the discussion of", or "amidst discussions about". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "in the midst of discussing" or "while discussing"?

"In the midst of discussing" tends to be slightly more formal than "while discussing". The former adds a sense of being deeply involved or interrupted during the conversation.

What is the difference between "in the midst of discussing" and "discussing"?

"Discussing" simply refers to the act of conversation, while "in the midst of discussing" emphasizes that the conversation is ongoing and something else is happening concurrently. It adds a layer of context and immediacy.