passing notice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passing notice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is only briefly acknowledged or given minimal attention. Example: "The changes in the schedule were given only passing notice by the attendees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

This first detection of cosmic radio waves received much attention from the public but only passing notice from the astronomical community.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The 10-year anniversary of the American invasion came and went on Tuesday with barely passing notice in a town once consumed by it.

The New York Times

Only passing notice recorded the mounting Jewish death toll: 3 million in August 1943, 4 million in July 1944, 5.5 million in November 1944.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama conceded that he faces the urgent challenge of introducing himself to those who have paid only passing notice to the presidential race.

The New York Times

"Dollars" needed an apostrophe here: "… a million dollars' worth ��" The 10-year anniversary of the American invasion came and went on Tuesday with barely passing notice in a town once consumed by it.

The New York Times

But while the attention of Europe remains loyally fixed on the Tour despite professional cycling's doping scandals, Americans still seem to be taking only passing notice of the achievements of Armstrong and his US Postal Service team.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But it hasn't passed notice among the cast and crew of "Leverage" that, in addition to the action and humor, it possesses a certain timeliness.

The New York Times - Arts

Murder is finally done, but with Blue Deer also caught up in illicit romance, wedding plans, a bachelor party run amok and, yes, the coming of spring, it can easily pass notice.

The New York Times - Books

This is a subject so banal in the life of a painter so as to pass notice as being worthy subject matter.

HuffPost

And it's not passing without notice.

The New York Times - Arts

In this ruminative browsing, where time becomes something distended, passing without notice, our idle fantasies take flight.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passing notice" when you want to convey that something received only a small amount of attention or was not considered important. It's effective for highlighting a lack of focus or disregard.

Common error

Avoid using "passing notice" when you intend to describe someone actively observing something. This phrase specifically refers to a lack of significant attention, not active engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passing notice" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, indicating the state of being barely acknowledged. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing events or information that were largely ignored or dismissed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passing notice" is a phrase used to indicate that something has received minimal attention or has been largely ignored. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, primarily in news and media, science, and encyclopedias. While alternatives like "brief attention" or "cursory mention" exist, "passing notice" is a well-established way to convey a lack of significance or focus. When employing this phrase, ensure that the intention is to highlight a lack of attention rather than active observation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scant notice

Emphasizes the lack of sufficient notice.

brief attention

Focuses on the brevity of the attention given.

cursory mention

Highlights the superficial nature of the mention.

limited attention

Focuses on the restricted amount of attention provided.

fleeting recognition

Emphasizes the short duration of the recognition.

casual acknowledgment

Suggests an informal level of acknowledgement.

slight consideration

Indicates a minimal amount of thought given.

minimal heed

Implies little attention or importance was given.

perfunctory observation

Highlights the routine nature of the observation.

token regard

Suggests a symbolic or superficial level of regard.

FAQs

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

You can use "passing notice" to indicate that something received minimal attention. For example, "The 10-year anniversary of the American invasion came and went with barely "passing notice"".

What are some alternatives to "passing notice"?

Alternatives to "passing notice" include "brief attention", "cursory mention", or "slight consideration". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "passing notice" formal or informal?

"Passing notice" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's frequently used in news articles, academic papers, and general writing.

What does it mean when something receives "passing notice"?

When something receives "passing notice", it means it was only acknowledged briefly or given minimal attention, often implying a lack of importance or significance.