observing one another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "observing one another" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where individuals are watching or monitoring each other's actions or behaviors, often in a social or collaborative setting. Example: "During the group project, the students were observing one another to learn different techniques and approaches."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Many of these comics have spent years doing open mics, perfecting their craft while observing one another's progress thousands of hours whittling down the art of talking.

Vice

Gather a subset of your colleagues to take turns observing one another's classes and giving feedback to help improve student learning.

CBE Life Sciences Education

He was referring to La Caravelle's heyday, back in the sixties, when regulars with names like Windsor, Paley, and Kennedy were too busy observing one another to comment on the appearance of the restaurant's signature dish.

The New Yorker

Friday's performance is of "Roaratorio" (1983), the hourlong Irish dance bonanza inspired by James Joyce's "Finnegans Wake"; Saturday's is of "Squaregame" (1976), with its odd feeling of a sportive dance community all observing one another, "Quartet" (1982), a tragedy in which the oldest character is perpetually excluded; and "Antic Meet" (1958), a surreal comedy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Because it's a matter of such fine distinctions, virility has turned out to be most easily learned in environments of total surveillance — in a barracks, for example, where boys and men might observe one another at all times.

The New Yorker

Some physicists believe they are coming closer to an answer with a phenomenon called decoherence, in which the particles themselves constantly "observe" one another, eliminating the quantum fuzziness and yielding the familiar world of solid objects.

The New York Times - Science

This is a minor flaw, however, in the absorbing portrait of timid but determined young Moyna, who has left home for an independent life and rented a barsati -- one of Delhi's somewhat primitive rooftop apartments, whose inhabitants observe one another's exposed homes and form a loose community.

The New York Times - Books

Subjects were allowed to observe one another during this practice opportunity.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

In individual learning process, the independent agents cannot observe one another's actions, i.e., for each player, the opponents are passive agents.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, due to the way the lesson was sequenced (as evident in the lesson plan in Appendix 2, all students in the class worked concurrently and there was little opportunity for them to observe one another at work.

Asia-Pacific Science Education

We cautiously observed one another, he intermittently sitting, still keeping a bit of a distance and staring at me.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collaborative activities, use "observing one another" to highlight mutual learning and feedback among participants.

Common error

Avoid using "observing one another" when the action is not mutual. If only one party is observing, use "observing the other" or a similar construction that reflects the one-sided nature of the observation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "observing one another" functions as a reciprocal verb phrase, indicating a mutual action where individuals are both the subject and object of the verb. This is supported by Ludwig's examples where the phrase consistently describes interactions between two or more entities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "observing one another" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of mutual observation or monitoring. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted. Predominantly found in science and news contexts, the phrase functions as a reciprocal verb phrase, indicating a mutual exchange of attention. While alternatives like "watching each other" or "monitoring one another" exist, "observing one another" maintains a formal and professional tone suitable for various written and spoken contexts. Remember to use this phrase in situations where reciprocity is implied and avoid it in scenarios where only one party is observing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

watching each other

A more direct and informal alternative that emphasizes the visual aspect of observation.

monitoring one another

Implies a more systematic and potentially critical form of observation, often for oversight or control.

keeping an eye on each other

Suggests a protective or cautionary form of observation, implying concern or vigilance.

scrutinizing each other

Indicates a more intense and critical examination, often with the intent of finding flaws.

assessing one another

Focuses on evaluation and judgment, often in a professional or competitive setting.

evaluating each other

Very similar to assessing, but might be related to a more structured and formal process.

inspecting one another

Emphasizes a detailed and methodical examination, often for quality control or security.

surveying one another

Implies a broad and comprehensive overview, rather than a detailed examination.

checking each other out

An informal expression that can refer to casual observation or flirtatious interest.

taking stock of each other

Suggests an assessment of current status or capabilities, often in a business or strategic context.

FAQs

How can I use "observing one another" in a sentence?

You can use "observing one another" to describe situations where individuals are watching or monitoring each other's actions, such as "During the workshop, participants were "observing one another" to learn new techniques".

What are some alternatives to "observing one another"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "watching each other", "monitoring one another", or "keeping an eye on each other".

Is there a difference between "observing one another" and "observing each other"?

No, "observing one another" and "observing each other" are generally interchangeable and have the same meaning. Both phrases indicate a mutual act of observation.

In what contexts is "observing one another" most appropriate?

"Observing one another" is suitable in contexts involving collaboration, learning, or evaluation, where mutual awareness and feedback are important. For instance, it's appropriate in educational settings, group projects, or performance reviews.