only in passing

USAGE SUMMARY

"only in passing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to an event or conversation that has been mentioned previously and was only discussed casually or briefly. For example, "We discussed the birthday party only in passing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If only in passing.

The Guardian - Opinion

They mention Givental's work only in passing.

The New Yorker

She characterized it only in passing.

The Guardian

Shariah was mentioned only in passing.

The New York Times - Magazine

The economics of melting are dealt with only in passing.

Complete Casting Handbook Metal Casting Processes, Metallurgy, Techniques and Design

The blog, Morningsider (www.morningsider.com), mentions 88 Morningside only in passing.

The New York Times

She mentions America's one-drop rule only in passing.

The New Yorker

He mentioned I.B.M., if at all, only in passing.

The New York Times

But last week he mentioned it only in passing.

The New Yorker

He too made the link if only in passing.

The Guardian - Books

But she mentions the controversy only in passing.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain clarity, ensure that the context makes it clear what is being mentioned "only in passing". Avoid ambiguity by immediately clarifying the topic if necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "only in passing" repeatedly to dismiss significant issues. If something deserves more attention, allocate it instead of minimizing its presence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only in passing" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner or extent to which an action (usually 'mentioning' or 'referring') is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only in passing" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that something was mentioned briefly or casually. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its frequent appearance in sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and The New Yorker underscores its common usage across diverse contexts, primarily in news and media, as well as scientific discussions. It is essential to avoid overusing the phrase to downplay important issues; alternatives such as "briefly mentioned" or "casually mentioned", available on Ludwig, can provide subtle variations in meaning and prevent repetitive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made a passing reference

Similar meaning, emphasizing the brief nature of the reference.

briefly mentioned

Focuses on the brevity of the mention.

casually mentioned

Emphasizes the informality of the mention.

fleetingly mentioned

Highlights the very short duration of the mention.

mentioned in brief

Reorders the words for a slightly different emphasis.

gave a cursory mention

Highlights the lack of detail or thoroughness in the mention.

touched on lightly

Suggests a delicate and non-detailed discussion.

just touched upon

Implies a light, superficial treatment of the topic.

alluded to briefly

Indicates an indirect reference.

mentioned tangentially

Highlights that the mention was not central to the main topic.

FAQs

What does "only in passing" mean?

The phrase "only in passing" means something was mentioned briefly or casually, without much detail or emphasis.

How can I use "only in passing" in a sentence?

You can use "only in passing" to indicate that a topic was acknowledged but not thoroughly discussed, for example: "We discussed the budget cuts "only in passing" during the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "only in passing"?

Alternatives include "briefly mentioned", "casually mentioned", or "made a passing reference". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "only in passing" in formal writing?

Yes, "only in passing" is suitable for formal writing, but ensure the context requires downplaying the significance of the mentioned item. Overuse can weaken the overall impact.