is already holding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is already holding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is currently in possession of or maintaining something at the present time. Example: "She is already holding the trophy from last year's competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Lebanon is already holding eight suspects, including four Syrian generals.

The Economist

His party is already holding rallies, even though other parties are forbidden to do so.

The Economist

Ireland is already holding government hearings on the idea of such a tax.

The New York Times

May says Cobra, the Cabinet Office's emergency committee, is already holding regular no deal planning meetings.

The Guardian

Whenever possible, Baby shall be carried, no matter how many Trader Joe's bags and dog leashes Adult is already holding.

The New Yorker

The Iraqi Army division that has been fighting in Sadr City is already holding meetings to discuss the next steps.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Some genetic information is already held in various databases.

The Economist

Half of the 550 mile-long frontier is already held by the Syrian Kurds.

Independent

A specimen preserved in alcohol is already held at the site's herbarium.

The Guardian

Records of voices and events will be a permanent part of the Internet the way text is already, held forever and searched, mined and inspected.

The New York Times

Although much of the land is already held by state and federal governments, traditionally there has been little financing for management and conservation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is already holding" to indicate that an action of holding or possessing is currently in progress, often implying a state that precedes the present moment or a situation that has been ongoing.

Common error

Avoid using "is already holding" when you mean to describe a completed action in the past. Instead, use "already held" to indicate that the holding action has finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is already holding" functions as a present progressive verb phrase. It indicates an action that is in progress at the time of speaking, with the added emphasis that the action started sometime before the present moment. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing ongoing situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is already holding" is a present progressive verb phrase used to describe a continuing state of possession or maintenance. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in news and media, and formal business writing. While it can be used in several contexts, it’s crucial to ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning and timeframe. The phrase can be replaced with alternatives like "currently possesses" or "presently maintains" for variety. Overall, "is already holding" is a versatile and useful phrase for expressing current actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

currently possesses

Focuses on the act of possession at the present moment.

presently maintains

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of keeping something in a specific state.

is presently in possession of

Formal and explicit way to state current possession.

has a firm grip on

Idiomatic expression highlighting control and possession.

is now in control of

Highlights the aspect of control and authority.

is already in charge of

Focuses on responsibility and management.

is retaining

Emphasizes the continuation of holding something.

is keeping ahold of

Informal way of saying maintaining possession.

is still carrying

Focuses on the physical act of holding or transporting.

is managing at this moment

Highlights the active management or handling of something.

FAQs

How can I use "is already holding" in a sentence?

Use "is already holding" to describe an ongoing action of holding something at the present moment, often implying that this action started before the current time. For example, "The company "is already holding" negotiations with potential investors".

What are some alternatives to "is already holding"?

You can use alternatives like "currently possesses", "presently maintains", or "is presently in possession of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was already holding" instead of "is already holding"?

The choice between "is already holding" and "was already holding" depends on the timeframe you're referring to. Use "is already holding" for present continuous actions and "was already holding" for past continuous actions. For example, "He "was already holding" the trophy when I arrived" refers to the past.

What's the difference between "is already holding" and "already holds"?

"Is already holding" describes a continuous action occurring now, while "already holds" describes a state or a habitual action. For example, "She "is already holding" the baby" (continuous), versus "She "already holds" the record" (habitual/state).