its containing of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "its containing of" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not typically used, as it is awkward and redundant. A more straightforward construction is preferred. Example: "The report is focused on its containing of various data sets."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

An intriguing characteristic of the human genome is its containing of vast numbers of Alus, a class of short-interspersed repetitive sequences with a length of 280~300 nucleotide bases [ 1- 3].

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There are multiple copies of ITS (containing ITS1 and ITS2) in plants and animals.

Plosone

That the glass contains H2O is a necessary condition of its containing water.

SEP

And, for a ballet that advertises "divertissement" in its name, it contains heaps of narrative.

The New York Times - Arts

Despite its flaws, its meandering narrative, it contains some of the most beautiful words ever strung together in English.

The Guardian

At the time of its release, it contained 470,000 lines of code.

Methods in Enzymology

And despite the repetition and the exasperation I felt listening to "1970," it contains its share of miraculous moments.

The New York Times - Arts

It contains some of its worst squalor.

The New York Times

And yet, a second look at Velázquez's subtle painting reveals that it contains its own critique of looking.

The Guardian - Arts

Tehama eventually reached an elevation of about 11000 feet, was 11-15 mile wide at its base, and contained of material.

Wikipedia

"Surrogates," like so many films of its kind, contains plenty of terrifying, brink-of-extinction plot twists.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "its containing of" in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically correct and widely accepted alternatives such as "its inclusion of" or "the fact that it contains".

Common error

The phrase "its containing of" often arises from trying to make a sentence more complex than necessary. Instead, simplify your sentence by using a direct verb like "includes" or "contains" directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "its containing of" attempts to function as a noun phrase indicating the contents or components of something. However, this construction is grammatically awkward and not standard English. As noted by Ludwig AI, simpler alternatives are preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

20%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "its containing of" might seem like a grammatically valid way to describe the composition of something, it is generally considered awkward and incorrect in standard written English. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, clearer and more direct alternatives, such as "its inclusion of" or restructuring the sentence with "contains", are preferable. The phrase is infrequently used, and its presence in academic or professional writing should be carefully reconsidered in favor of more conventional expressions. Remember to aim for clarity and conciseness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

its inclusion of

Replaces "containing of" with the noun "inclusion", making it grammatically sound.

its composition of

Uses "composition" to indicate what something is made up of, offering a more formal alternative.

that it contains

Restructures the sentence to use a relative clause, clarifying the subject and verb.

its holding of

Employs "holding" as a noun to describe the act of possessing or containing something.

its embrace of

Suggests a more active inclusion, as if the subject is willingly encompassing something.

its comprising of

While “comprising of” may be used, is better to use comprising without “of”.

its possession of

Focuses on the aspect of ownership rather than mere inclusion.

the fact that it contains

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating the presence of something within.

its component parts

Highlights the elements that make up the whole, rather than the act of containing.

its constituent elements

Emphasizes the fundamental parts that compose the whole.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "its containing of"?

Better alternatives include "its inclusion of", "the fact that it contains", or simply restructuring the sentence to use "includes" or "contains" directly.

Why is "its containing of" considered grammatically awkward?

The phrase is awkward because it uses a gerund ("containing") as a noun after a possessive pronoun ("its") followed by a preposition ("of"), creating a wordy and indirect construction. More concise options are clearer and more effective.

Is "its containing of" ever appropriate to use?

While technically understandable, "its containing of" is rarely the best choice. There are almost always clearer and more grammatically standard ways to express the same idea.

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "its containing of" to make it sound more professional?

Instead of "The report is focused on its containing of various data sets", try "The report focuses on its inclusion of various data sets" or "The report details the data sets "that it contains"".