just trailing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just trailing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is following or lagging behind, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "The car was just trailing behind the bus, maintaining a safe distance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

These big fingers of fog were coming in and dissipating, just trailing off.

The New York Times

At 9, "CSI" earned 7.9 million, just trailing the results episode of "So You Think You Can Dance" (8.5 million) on Fox.

The New York Times - Arts

Just trailing in second place is Moonlight, Barry Jenkins's acclaimed drama about a black gay man at three different stages of his life.

The Guardian - Film

Just trailing Dimon for the crown of best-paid banker last year was Wells Fargo chief John Stumpf, with a still-respectable $19.8 million pay package.

Huffington Post

It is the largest French exporter, shipping $64 billion€6060 billion) worth of goods in 2015, and in balance of trade, it ranks third with a $9.76 billion€9.1.1 billion) surplus (2014 data), just trailing the aeronautical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Huffington Post

I'm glad that the show is finding new ways to integrate Henry into the mythology again, since he's spent most of this season just trailing after his grandfather so far.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Maybe Southampton will just trail the New York City market," he said.

The New York Times

They just trail off into the ether somewhere.

The New York Times

Sometimes I'd just trail off, saying, "Never mind, everything's fine".

The New York Times

It seems that she could not just trail along, the way I did.

The New Yorker

"But because we are Lotus, we cannot just trail about at the back of the field.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just trailing" to concisely convey that something is slightly behind or following closely, adding a nuance of immediacy or proximity to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "just trailing" when the gap is significant. This phrase implies a close following, so ensure the context accurately reflects a minimal distance or difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just trailing" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a present participle, describing an action of closely following or being slightly behind. It adds detail and nuance to a verb, indicating the manner in which something is moving or positioned. Ludwig AI validates the grammatical correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just trailing" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for indicating that something is closely following or slightly behind, as validated by Ludwig. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. Use it to succinctly convey proximity and a slight degree of lagging. When using this phrase, ensure the context accurately reflects a minimal difference. Alternative phrases like "slightly behind" or "closely following" can be considered depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Understanding its communicative function will help ensure accurate and effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly behind

Indicates a similar meaning but with a more direct emphasis on the position of being behind.

closely following

Focuses on the act of following rather than the degree of being behind.

narrowly behind

Highlights the small margin by which something is trailing.

a little behind

A more informal way of expressing being slightly behind.

close behind

Emphasizes proximity, implying a short distance in the trailing position.

marginally behind

Stresses the slightness of the difference in position.

nearly following

Emphasizes the closeness of the following action, almost immediate.

right behind

Indicates being very close and immediately following.

hard on the heels of

Idiomatic expression that suggests close pursuit or following.

on someone's heels

Another idiomatic alternative indicating close following or pursuit.

FAQs

What does "just trailing" mean?

"Just trailing" means closely following or being slightly behind something or someone. It implies a small margin of difference.

How can I use "just trailing" in a sentence?

You might say, "The runner was "just trailing" behind the leader," meaning they were close to winning but not quite in first place.

What are some alternatives to "just trailing"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly behind", "closely following", or "narrowly behind" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "just trailing" in formal writing?

Yes, "just trailing" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when you want to indicate a close or narrow margin in a concise way.