joining

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "joining" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean the act of becoming part of something, for example, "Vicki is joining the running club".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Prior to joining the Guardian, Katharine worked at the Sunday Times in London.

The Guardian

Before joining Guardian Australia in 2014, he worked in independent media, as the associate editor of New Matilda.

The Guardian

He also worked at the Australian before joining Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

Email: [email protected] Todd Moore studio developer Prior to joining Guardian Australia, Todd has worked at Blue State Digital (Obama's digital team) in the US, unit9 in London, Soap Creative in Sydney and Ogilvy.

The Guardian

Piechowski and Bendera spent time in Ukraine before Piechowski returned to Poland, joining the partisan Polish Home Army and spending the rest of the war fighting the Nazis.

The Guardian

When Poland became a communist state in 1947, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for joining the Home Army, serving seven.

The Guardian

Farah, who won Olympic gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m a year after joining Salazar in 2011, also insisted that he was a "100% clean athlete", but feared that some would think, after watching the BBC's Panorama programme on Wednesday night, that he is guilty by association.

The Guardian - Sport

He said he was joining the rebels because of the "brutal" crackdown on dissent that has claimed the lives of thousands of Syrians.

The Guardian

A palaeontologist/geologist will be joining the Jewels of the Arctic trip, which visits Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland, to share his knowledge of volcanoes, fjords and rocks.

The Guardian - Travel

Each time there is news of Hormuz joining the zone, says Ali, businessmen from Tehran and Isfahan come and buy land.

The Guardian

After joining the UK youth parliament and creating a documentary based on her experiences, Temi founded Get Outta the Gang which aims to raise awareness, help rebuild family structures and give young people a long term focus beyond youth violence.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone starting a new job or role, use "joining" to indicate the commencement of their employment or affiliation with the organization.

Common error

Avoid using "joining" when you actually mean physically connecting or attaching items. "Joining" implies becoming a member or participant, not necessarily a physical connection.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "joining" is as a present participle or gerund of the verb "join". It often acts as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "is joining") or as a noun (gerund) describing the act of becoming a member or participant. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "joining" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund, denoting the act of becoming a member or participant in a group or activity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While "joining" maintains a neutral register, its specific connotation depends on the context, emphasizing either formal affiliation or collaborative engagement. When writing, ensure that "joining" accurately reflects the intended meaning of affiliation rather than physical connection. Alternatives such as "becoming a member" or "getting involved in" can provide nuanced substitutes depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming a member

Focuses on the formal aspect of becoming part of a group or organization.

becoming affiliated with

Emphasizes a formal connection or association.

associating oneself with

Highlights the act of connecting or aligning with something.

getting involved in

Suggests active participation and engagement.

linking up with

Implies a connection or partnership.

teaming up with

Highlights collaboration and working together.

subscribing to

Implies agreement and support for a particular idea or organization.

enlisting in

Suggests formally signing up for a service or cause.

signing up for

Indicates a formal agreement to participate.

merging with

Describes the act of combining with another entity.

FAQs

How to use "joining" in a sentence?

"Joining" indicates becoming a member or participant in a group, organization, or activity. For example, "She is joining the soccer team" or "He is joining the company next week".

What can I say instead of "joining"?

You can use alternatives like "becoming a member", "getting involved in", or "linking up with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "joining" or "join to"?

"Joining" is generally correct when referring to becoming a member. "Join to" is less common and often grammatically incorrect. You might say, "Join us to celebrate", but not "I am join to the club".

What's the difference between "joining" and "joining with"?

"Joining" typically means becoming a member, while "joining with" suggests collaborating or uniting with something or someone. For example, "She is joining the club" vs. "They are joining with another company for a project".