modifying

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "modifying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something changing or being adapted in some way. For example, "The company is currently modifying its business plan to better meet customer needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lynas first heard about the notion of genetically modifying crops in a Brighton squat in early 1996, at a meeting of about six activists that was lead by Jim Thomas, a campaigns director for Greenpeace.

The Guardian

And lately the manipulation of DNA has been driving the fascinating, if controversial, business of genetically modifying the animals and plants on our farms; even changes to human DNA are now up for discussion as the recent debates around mitochondrial transfer and genome editing have shown.

The Guardian

The submission adds: "Modifying properties on the basis of domestic political whim is a bad precedent to set and something the Australian government should not encourage.

The Guardian

Community-based approaches take time to yield positive results: Community health staff training, retraining, programme monitoring, modifying and problem solving usually must occur in several complete cycles over a period of months to a year or two before the programme can be seen to be fully understood, integrated and accepted within communities, and for permanent behaviour change to take place.

The Guardian

As these technologies become more widespread, the cost of modifying the electricity network using traditional methods is likely to be higher, putting further pressure on our electricity bills.

The Guardian

The resilient city is just as adaptive and able to adjust to a disruption by making new plans, taking new actions, or modifying behaviours and mandates to better accommodate the situation.

The Guardian

"This is actually just modifying regulations that have been passed and implemented by states across the board".

The Guardian

Some of those papers explored making the components of a battery using viruses.The technique begins by genetically modifying the somewhat basic DNA of a bacteriophage.

The Economist

After that, the EU's Council of Ministers as well as the European Parliament will take a crack at modifying them.

The Economist

And seeing what is going on often involves chopping them up or modifying them in some way, such as by attaching fluorescent labels, in order to analyse their activity.

The Economist

By the same token, modifying Social Security's indexation to inflation is a far cry from privatisation.Moreover, Mr Obama is leader of his party in a way that Mr Boehner is not, thanks to the authority of the presidency and to the Democrats' relative cohesion.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "modifying", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being changed and the intended outcome of the change.

Common error

Avoid using "modifying" without specifying what is being modified. For example, instead of saying "The system needs modifying", specify "The system needs modifying to improve efficiency."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "modifying" is that of a verb, acting as a present participle or gerund. It describes the act of changing something, whether as part of an ongoing action or as a subject itself. Ludwig confirms its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "modifying" is a very common and grammatically correct verb form used to describe the act of changing or adapting something. As supported by Ludwig, it is prevalent in various contexts, including news, business, and science. The phrase serves the purpose of indicating a process of alteration, with a neutral to formal register. When using "modifying", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being changed and the intended outcome. While synonyms like "altering", "adjusting", and "adapting" offer alternative ways to express change, "modifying" specifically highlights the act of making targeted adjustments. Pay attention to clearly stating exactly what is being modified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

altering

Focuses on making a distinct change to something, often implying a significant difference after the change.

adjusting

Implies making small changes to achieve a better fit or result.

adapting

Suggests changing something to better suit a new or specific situation or environment.

revising

Often refers to making corrections or improvements to a written document or plan.

amending

Specifically refers to making formal changes or additions to a law or document.

reworking

Suggests making significant changes or improvements to something, often involving considerable effort.

transforming

Implies a radical change in form or appearance.

converting

Focuses on changing something into a different form or function.

tailoring

Implies customizing something to meet specific needs or preferences.

fine-tuning

Refers to making very small adjustments to optimize performance.

FAQs

How to use "modifying" in a sentence?

Use "modifying" when you want to indicate that something is undergoing a change or adaptation. For example, "The software is being modified to include new features."

What can I say instead of "modifying"?

You can use alternatives like "altering", "adjusting", or "adapting" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "modifying" or "to modify"?

Both are correct, but they serve different grammatical functions. "Modifying" is a gerund or present participle, while "to modify" is an infinitive. For example, "Modifying the code" (gerund) vs. "The goal is to modify the code" (infinitive).

What's the difference between "modifying" and "changing"?

"Modifying" often implies making specific, targeted alterations, while "changing" is a more general term for making something different. Modifying suggests a more controlled or intentional alteration.