meanwhile while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meanwhile while" is not correct and is redundant in written English.
It is typically used when you want to indicate that two actions are happening at the same time, but using both "meanwhile" and "while" together is unnecessary. Example: "I was cooking dinner; meanwhile, while the pasta was boiling, I prepared the salad."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The ZenFone 3, meanwhile, while already announced, is now getting some Stateside love.

TechCrunch

Meanwhile, while scheduled tax increases were accelerated, they were still phased in over seven years.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, while you're busy Googling for evidence that trans people are rapists in disguise, men are still raping women.

Independent

Mr. Mourdock received the endorsement of Sarah Palin, meanwhile, while Mitt Romney is conspicuously remaining neutral in the race.

The New York Times

Stenson meanwhile, while Jimenez was faffing around at 2, has claimed back the shot he dropped on the opening hole.

The Guardian - Sport

Tim Pawlenty has dropped out of the running, meanwhile, while Mr. Romney has yet to fully commit to the state for fear of raising expectations.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, while Romney won a record-high share of the white vote, that share was padded by huge margins across the South.

The New York Times

And meanwhile, while we were writing this, MoveOn.org and OpenLeft.com joined together in a protest against the donors' veiled threat to Mrs. Pelosi.

The New York Times

Meanwhile while Florence and the Machine won best British album for Lungs and rapper Dizzee Rascal was named best British male solo artist.

The Guardian - Music

Meanwhile, while average real wages have shrunk, the number earning more than a million pounds has doubled in the past two years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, while talking to the great Goose Gossage this morning for another story, he showed that the Red Sox aren't far from his mind.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating two actions happening at the same time, prefer using "at the same time" or "simultaneously" for clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Do not combine "meanwhile" and "while" in the same clause. It creates an unnecessary repetition and weakens your writing. Choose the word that best fits the context and use it alone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meanwhile while" functions as an adverbial conjunction, intended to connect two clauses indicating events happening simultaneously. However, due to the redundancy of using both "meanwhile" and "while", it is grammatically incorrect, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Each word independently can serve the intended function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

23%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "meanwhile while" is a grammatically incorrect and redundant construction, according to Ludwig AI. While it appears frequently across various sources, including news and media, its usage is discouraged in favor of either "meanwhile" or "while" alone, or alternative phrases like "at the same time" or "simultaneously". To improve writing clarity and correctness, avoid combining these two words. Despite its common occurrence, prioritizing grammatical accuracy will enhance the quality and professionalism of your writing. Remember to select the single word—"meanwhile" or "while"—that best fits the context, thereby ensuring effective and correct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the same time

Replaces "meanwhile while" with a simpler expression of simultaneous actions.

simultaneously

A single word replacement indicating that two things occur at the same time.

in the interim

Suggests a period between events, similar to "meanwhile", but avoids redundancy.

during that period

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the concurrent events.

whilst

A synonym for "while", but using it alone avoids the repetition.

at the same time as

More explicit about the synchronicity of the actions.

concurrently

A formal synonym indicating actions happening together.

at once

Highlights the immediate and simultaneous nature of the actions.

in parallel

Suggests that two processes are happening independently but at the same time.

by contrast

Introduces a contrasting element happening at the same time as something else.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "meanwhile" and "while" in a sentence?

Use "meanwhile" to indicate that something is happening at the same time as something else, or use "while" to connect two related events. Avoid using them together, as in "meanwhile while", because it is redundant. For example, use "I cooked dinner; meanwhile, my family set the table" or "I cooked dinner while my family set the table."

What can I say instead of "meanwhile while"?

Instead of the redundant "meanwhile while", use single words or phrases such as "at the same time", "simultaneously", "in the interim", or simply "meanwhile" or "while" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "meanwhile while"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The phrase "meanwhile while" is redundant because both words serve a similar function. Choose either "meanwhile" or "while", but not both.

What is the difference between "meanwhile" and "while"?

"Meanwhile" is typically used to indicate that something else is happening during the same period of time, often introducing a slightly contrasting or independent event. "While" can also indicate simultaneity, but often connects two closely related or dependent actions. Using "meanwhile while" is unnecessary, as either word alone conveys the intended meaning. For example, "I was cleaning the house; meanwhile, my brother was watching television", versus "I was cleaning the house while my brother was watching television".