mentioning

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "mentioning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that was mentioned or named earlier, or when you are talking about bringing something up in conversation. Example: I didn't mean to sound like I was mentioning any one person in particular.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Without mentioning Bachmann by name, McCain described the attacks on Abedin, a Muslim, as an example of ignorance and fear.

The Guardian

Perhaps next time, as well as mentioning schools, fire services and benefits, some brave Radio 4 presenter will mention the business coaching and marketing and advocacy services provided by the Department for Business (annual cost: nearly £5bn).

The Guardian - Opinion

The lattes are going to have to get very skinny before the Greens can make too many deals with any Labour minority government: without actually mentioning the word "borrowing" the Greens have committed themselves to still be running a £20bn deficit in 2019.

The Guardian

And Dave says the washing up sometimes leaves a little to be desired, mentioning a lipstick-stained coffee cup that he sent back recently.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ana Marie Cox has a tip for Obama: Needs to drink a Red Bull, preferably without mentioning that it was, in fact, a Red Bull on camera.

The Guardian

1.40pm: There's nasty piece of YouTube posted by someone named by NHLiberty4Paul, ostensibly a pro-Ron Paul ad that mocks Jon Huntsman for his links with China, calling him a "Manchurian candidate" and specifically mentioning Huntsman's adopted daughters.

The Guardian

Martin London Henllan, Denbighshire On Friday's Today programme, Grant Shapps, Tory party chairman, made the strategy for the next election fairly clear when responding to the byelection results, by mentioning Ed Miliband 12 times in a short interview – once even referring to the Ed Miliband party.

The Guardian

'When I was a boy," says Mark Gatiss, "I wanted to be a whiskery man in a white coat saying, 'Look, it's a pterodactyl!'" He elaborates, mentioning one of his film heroes, who died earlier this year: "I wanted to be Lionel Jeffries in an Edwardian-set family fantasy film".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

When mentioning my home turf, I have got used to the look of puzzlement that settles on the faces of cosmopolitan journalists or government folk, more familiar with the souks of Marrakech than this unglamorous patch of north London.

The Guardian

And that's without mentioning defence policy, epidemics, climate change and the Islamic world.

The Guardian - Opinion

The court was told that other Essex players heard Kaneria mentioning spot-fixing but dismissed what he was saying as "banter".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mentioning" when you want to bring up a detail or fact without dwelling on it extensively. It's a good way to add context without making it the central focus.

Common error

Avoid using "mentioning" in overly passive constructions. For example, instead of "It was mentioned by him that...", try "He mentioned that..." for a more direct and engaging sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mentioning" functions primarily as a present participle, often used to add supplementary information or context to a main clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mentioning" is a versatile present participle used to introduce details or facts in a non-emphatic way. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English, indicating that it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, formal business, and scientific writing. While alternatives like "referring to" and "noting" exist, "mentioning" offers a nuanced way to provide context without shifting the primary focus. Be mindful of avoiding passive voice constructions for a more direct writing style. It can be concluded, reading Ludwig AI information, that "mentioning" is considered a correct and usable word.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

referring to

Focuses on the act of directing attention to something specific.

referencing

Similar to referring, but can also imply a more structured or formal citation.

making reference to

A more formal way of saying "referring to", often used in written contexts.

alluding to

Suggests an indirect reference, implying something without stating it explicitly.

noting

Emphasizes the act of observing or taking notice of something.

drawing attention to

Emphasizes the act of highlighting something to make it more noticeable.

citing

Highlights the action of quoting or referencing a source.

acknowledging

Implies recognition or acceptance of something's existence or truth.

bringing up

Suggests introducing a topic or subject into a conversation or discussion.

touching on

Indicates a brief or superficial mention of a topic.

FAQs

How can I use "mentioning" in a sentence?

You can use "mentioning" to introduce a detail or fact. For example: "Without "mentioning Bachmann by name", McCain described the attacks on Abedin as an example of ignorance."

What are some alternatives to "mentioning"?

Alternatives to "mentioning" include "referring to", "noting", or "citing", depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to use "mentioning" or are there times when it's better to be more direct?

While "mentioning" is useful for adding context, sometimes being more direct is preferable. Instead of "mentioning that he was late", you could simply say "He was late" if the fact is the primary focus.

What's the difference between "mentioning" and "referring to"?

"Mentioning" generally implies a brief or casual reference, while "referring to" suggests a more direct or explicit connection to something.