merely repeating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "merely repeating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is being done without adding any new information or value, often in a context where repetition is seen as unnecessary. Example: "In his speech, he was merely repeating the same points he had made in previous discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was tired of merely repeating other men's words for a living.

The New York Times - Books

Trump later said he was merely repeating what Assange had said.

The Washington Post

Notably, the volunteers weren't shouting the curse word but were merely repeating it, without affect.

The New Yorker

Terry's defense was that he was merely repeating the insult he thought Ferdinand was accusing him of.

The New York Times - Sports

This was his habit, his space-alien habit, of merely repeating what she had just said to him.

The New Yorker

Terry has always insisted he was merely repeating an accusation of racism that Ferdinand contended Terry had made.

The New York Times - Sports

Further probing revealed that neither driver had actually travelled on the route; they were merely repeating hearsay.

The Guardian - Travel

In experimentally seeking the unknown, rather than merely repeating what is known to work, Flavin behaved like a scientist.

Nature

A university is about being a community of scholars who are contributing to knowledge, not merely repeating it.

The Guardian

We examined cerebral activation patterns with positron emission tomography (PET) in 12 right-handed normal volunteers while they were completing simple calculation tasks or merely repeating numbers.

NeuroImage

Mr. Brown rejected the claim, and he suggested at one point that Ms. Whitman seemed to be merely repeating campaign talking points.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "merely repeating" to indicate a lack of originality or new insight. It's effective when you want to point out that someone is only echoing existing information without contributing anything new.

Common error

Avoid using "merely repeating" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound overly critical or condescending. Consider using alternative phrases that convey a similar meaning with a more neutral connotation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely repeating" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the manner in which an action (usually a verb) is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts. It often implies a lack of originality or critical thinking.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "merely repeating" is a common phrase used to describe the act of reiterating information without adding anything new or original. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. It is frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and general discourse, serving to express a lack of originality or critical thinking. While it can be used neutrally, it often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the repetition is unnecessary or uninspired. Alternatives include "simply reiterating" and "just restating", offering subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simply reiterating

Focuses on the act of repeating something in a straightforward manner, without implying additional complexity.

just restating

Highlights the act of saying something again, often implying a lack of new information.

only echoing

Suggests a lack of original thought, where the statement is a mere reflection of something already said.

doing nothing but repeating

Emphasizes the limitation of the action to only repeating without any additional effort.

parrot fashion

Emphasizes rote learning and repetition without understanding.

reiterating verbatim

Focuses on the exactness of the repetition, using the same words.

blindly copying

Implies that the repetition is done without understanding or critical thought.

recapitulating without adding

Highlights that the action is summarizing without including further details or analysis.

mindlessly regurgitating

Conveys a sense of unthinking repetition, often with negative connotations.

mechanically reciting

Highlights the lack of emotion or engagement in the repetition.

FAQs

How can I use "merely repeating" in a sentence?

You can use "merely repeating" to indicate that someone is reiterating information without adding anything new. For example, "He was "merely repeating" what he had heard on the news".

What can I say instead of "merely repeating"?

You can use alternatives like "simply reiterating", "just restating", or "only echoing" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "merely repeating" and "summarizing"?

"Merely repeating" implies a lack of original thought or contribution, while "summarizing" suggests condensing information in a concise and informative way.

Is it always negative to say someone is "merely repeating" something?

While often used in a critical context, ""merely repeating"" isn't always negative. It can simply describe a situation where information is being reiterated without adding new insights, which might be neutral depending on the intent.