made in passing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made in passing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was mentioned or done casually or without much emphasis during a conversation or narrative. Example: "He made a comment about the weather, but it was just made in passing and not the main focus of our discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

But they are made in passing.

The New York Times - Arts

This wasn't a statement made in passing.

The Washington Post

The next point I've made in passing a little bit earlier, which is we can get densities.

Cornell University

The 1945 decision was an antitrust case not involving an inquest, and the Supreme Court's use of the word "may" was made in passing.

The New York Times

Krugman made, in passing, another key point: though countries don't compete for prosperity, they do compete for status and power — and, one realizes, status and power are Friedman and Mandelbaum's real concern when they talk about American decline.

The New Yorker

You can see why the smokehouses of Arbroath wanted to protect the reputation of their salty fish; Arbroath smokies are so famously delicious, there is serious cash to be made in passing off fakes as the real thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Salinger made passing reference in the 1982 letter to "my manuscripts".

The New York Times

Others, including the Milwaukee Brewers, have also made mistakes in passing on Minaya as a possible general manager.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Rogers would venture out to show what adults did for a living and the objects made in factories, passing along useful information along the way.

The New York Times - Arts

"Ian Allen corrected a lot of the errors he had made in his passing sets and David was a big help to him," Fassel said.

The New York Times - Sports

Important contacts are made here in passing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made in passing" to indicate that a comment or statement was not the primary focus of a conversation or text, but rather a secondary or incidental remark. This helps to signal the relative importance of different pieces of information to your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "made in passing" too frequently in formal or academic writing. Overuse can make your writing seem less direct and potentially undermine the importance of the points you are trying to convey. Instead, reserve it for truly incidental or tangential remarks, and use more direct language for your primary arguments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made in passing" functions as a verb phrase followed by a prepositional phrase, indicating that something was mentioned or done briefly and not as a central point. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "made in passing" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something was mentioned briefly or casually, without significant emphasis. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English. The phrase finds its primary contexts in news and media, science, and academic settings. While grammatically correct and common, overuse in formal writing should be avoided. Alternatives such as "mentioned briefly" or "casually remarked" can provide similar meaning with slightly different nuances. When incorporating "made in passing" into your writing, ensure it accurately reflects the relative importance of the information you are conveying.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mentioned in passing

Focuses specifically on the act of mentioning something briefly.

stated briefly

Emphasizes the conciseness of the statement.

casually remarked

Highlights the informal and offhand nature of the comment.

parenthetically noted

Indicates that the information was added as an aside or secondary thought.

offhandedly commented

Suggests a lack of seriousness or deep consideration in the remark.

tangentially alluded

Implies a connection that is not directly stated but is hinted at.

incidentally observed

Stresses that the observation was made as a secondary point.

fleetingly referenced

Indicates that the reference was brief and quickly gone.

cursorily addressed

Suggests that the topic was dealt with quickly and without thoroughness.

briefly touched upon

Highlights that a topic was only lightly discussed.

FAQs

How can I use "made in passing" in a sentence?

You can use "made in passing" to describe a comment or action that was brief or not the main focus. For example, "He "mentioned it in passing" during the meeting, but didn't elaborate further."

What's a good alternative to "made in passing"?

Alternatives include "mentioned briefly", "stated casually", or "touched on lightly". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "made in passing" in formal writing?

Yes, "made in passing" is acceptable in formal writing, but use it judiciously. It's most suitable for indicating that a point is secondary or not the main emphasis of your discussion. Overuse can weaken your argument.

What's the difference between "made in passing" and "mentioned in detail"?

"Made in passing" indicates a brief or casual mention, while "mentioned in detail" suggests a thorough and comprehensive discussion. They are essentially opposites in terms of the level of attention given to the topic.