outlining

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'outlining' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to sketch out the main points of a plan or theory. For example, "We began outlining our strategy for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Outlining his story in a matter-of-fact manner, the controlling killer told the operator: "I grabbed the knife and stabbed him in the back of the neck, I believe somewhere near the brain stem.

The Guardian

There were even rules outlining how "cute" members' avatars had to be, the precedent set by the hard-rocking piglet himself.

The Guardian - Books

The bill, which will be published on Thursday as the prime minister embarks on a tour of European capitals to begin the process of outlining his renegotiation plans, will confirm that the government has accepted the advice of the Electoral Commission on the referendum question.

The Guardian

"We strongly urge the federal government to reconsider its stance on this issue," they wrote, before outlining plans for more transparency about the data Yahoo shares with law enforcement agencies.

The Guardian - Tech

A United Nations resolution outlining Palestinian statehood would "harden" negotiating positions, Dermer said: "It could prevent peace for decades to come because no Palestinian leader will move from those positions".

The Guardian

By outlining the intended methods and analysis protocols beforehand, Registered Reports protect against these problems, as the review process concentrates on the robustness of the proposed methods.

The Guardian

"That's why the first major speech of her campaign laid out a broader vision for criminal justice reform, why she's appointed African Americans to senior leadership positions in her campaign, and why she'll continue outlining proposals that strengthen their families and communities".

The Guardian

The Polish Anti-Defamation League accused the film of failing to acknowledge Germany's wartime occupation of the country and launched a petition, now signed by around 40,000 people, demanding that Ida be screened with captions outlining the historical context.

The Guardian - Film

A graphic panel outlining key facts about tar sands in Canada, published alongside a related report (The oil made some people rich – but it poisoned the river and spoilt the land, 29 May, page 22), erred in saying they were located "in the state of Alberta".

The Guardian

May's plan, revealed in a pre-election document outlining an extremism strategy for a "stronger Britain", would give Ofcom the power to approve programmes before transmission, a fundamental shift.

The Guardian

Outlining the nature of the allegations, Smith told the inquiry that as well as making children eat vomit when they were ill, nuns used sticks, straps and kettle flexes to beat their young charges.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outlining" when you need to describe a process of creating a plan, strategy, or initial document.

Common error

Avoid using "outlining" when you're providing a fully detailed description, as it implies a summary or overview rather than comprehensive coverage.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outlining" is that of a verb, specifically the present participle form. It is used to indicate an ongoing action of creating a summary or initial plan, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outlining" functions as a verb to describe the action of creating a summary or initial plan. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly within news and media contexts. When using "outlining", it's important to remember that it implies presenting main points rather than a detailed description. Alternative phrases include "sketching out", "detailing", and "summarizing", offering nuanced options for expressing the act of planning or describing something. Use "outlining" to provide structure and clarity when communicating your key ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sketching out

Focuses on a preliminary, less detailed description.

detailing

Emphasizes providing comprehensive information.

delineating

Highlights the act of marking the boundaries or features clearly.

drafting

Implies creating an initial version of a plan or document.

mapping out

Suggests a visual representation of a plan or strategy.

laying out

Focuses on presenting information in a clear and organized manner.

presenting

Implies formally introducing or describing something.

summarizing

Highlights condensing information to its key points.

charting

Emphasizes creating a visual guide or plan.

planning

Focuses on the act of creating a strategy or course of action.

FAQs

How to use "outlining" in a sentence?

You can use "outlining" to describe the process of creating a plan or summary. For example, "She is outlining the key points of her presentation."

What can I say instead of "outlining"?

You can use alternatives like "sketching out", "detailing", or "summarizing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "outlining" or "to outline"?

"Outlining" is the present participle of the verb "to outline". Use "outlining" in continuous tenses (e.g., "She is outlining the plan") and "to outline" as the infinitive form (e.g., "She needs to outline the plan").

What's the difference between "outlining" and "describing"?

"Outlining" implies providing a summary or main points, while "describing" involves giving a more detailed account. You use "outlining" to present a structure and "describing" to elaborate on the details.