managing to

USAGE SUMMARY

"managing to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express the accomplishment of something, usually with difficulty. For example: "After many hours of study, I was finally managing to understand the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

He is managing to learn some Chinese.

The New York Times

— aren't managing to silence the critics.

The New York Times

But I'm managing to enjoy it".

The New York Times - Sports

Some companies are managing to get money.

The New York Times

Many families are barely managing to make ends meet.

The New York Times

It was true: Aura was managing to breathe.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

She managed to stand.

The New Yorker

Perkus managed to stand.

The New Yorker

Yemenis manage to struggle along.

The Economist

I manage to recover some.

The Economist

Gamrod managed to pull away.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "managing to" when you want to emphasize not only the achievement of a goal but also the effort, skill, or difficulty involved in reaching it. For example, "Despite the heavy rain, they were managing to stay on schedule."

Common error

Avoid using "managing to" when simply indicating the ability to do something without any implication of effort or difficulty. Instead of "He is managing to speak English" (when he's fluent), use "He can speak English."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "managing to" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used to indicate the achievement of something despite difficulty or effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correct usage emphasizes accomplishment, often in challenging situations. The examples from Ludwig showcase this across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "managing to" is a versatile and frequently used expression that indicates achieving something, often in the face of challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It is most prevalent in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, remember to use "managing to" to emphasize both the action and the effort involved, and avoid using it when a simple statement of ability suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

succeeding in

Focuses more on the successful outcome rather than the process or effort involved.

achieving

A simpler and more direct way of expressing accomplishment.

accomplishing

Emphasizes the completion of a task or goal.

able to

Indicates capability but doesn't necessarily imply effort or difficulty.

finding a way to

Highlights the process of discovering or creating a method to achieve something.

contriving to

Suggests a degree of ingenuity or manipulation to achieve something.

navigating through

Suggests overcoming obstacles or challenges to achieve a goal.

getting by

Implies managing to survive or cope with minimal resources or effort.

making do

Similar to "getting by", but emphasizes resourcefulness in using what's available.

effecting

Focuses more on the cause-and-effect relationship.

FAQs

How do I use "managing to" in a sentence?

"Managing to" indicates achieving something, often with difficulty or effort. For example, "Despite the challenges, she was managing to complete the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "managing to"?

You can use alternatives like "succeeding in", "able to", or "finding a way to" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "managing to", or are there situations where it's better to use a different phrase?

While "managing to" is generally correct, it's best used when emphasizing effort or overcoming difficulty. If there's no particular challenge involved, simpler phrases like "able to" or "succeeding in" may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "managing to" and "able to"?

"Managing to" implies effort or difficulty in achieving something, while "able to" simply indicates the capability to do it, without necessarily implying any struggle.