pasting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pasting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the action of inserting text or images into a document or application from a clipboard. Example: "After copying the text, I proceeded to pasting it into the email."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The all-female members of the electoral committee said that everything was peaceful and they expected no trouble on election day, as they went about installing the urns and pasting biographies of the 21 electoral candidates to the wall in the village's small social club earlier this week.

The Guardian

And Mr Hansen conceded that much work in modern biotech concerns recombinant DNA, which involves cutting and pasting DNA from different sources to make synthetic sequences not found in nature, something that the plaintiffs agree should be covered by patent law.Whatever conclusion the court comes to, the judges seemed keen to avoid an overly broad ruling.

The Economist

In India, for example, some people spend their days pasting white stickers onto maps of Kashmir printed in foreign publications (such as The Economist).

The Economist

As chronicled in "Exit Through the Gift Shop", a documentary that Banksy subsequently made about Mr Guetta (using some of Mr Guetta's own footage), the French artist moved quickly from pasting up stencils on walls to paying a large team of elves to churn out pop art en masse.

The Economist

If not, they could face a short spell in prison.Fly-posting, which involves sneaking around at night with a bucket of glue and a ladder, finding a likely-looking public space and pasting up advertising on it, is illegal in Britain but widespread.

The Economist

(For this online article, published on our blog platform, just copying and pasting the name from Cisco's press release did the trick).

The Economist

This "engineering gap" is a source of pride in India and consternation in America, which fears the cutting and pasting of high-tech jobs from West to East.Himanshu and Varun Aggarwal are two of India's formidable techies.

The Economist

In the 1980s your correspondent (an inveterate geek) moved seamlessly from cutting up wax galleys of typeset copy with X-acto knives and pasting them squarely on boards sent off for offset printing to Aldus PageMaker's near-identical digital steps in desktop publishing.

The Economist

From the simple tape splice to the more recent cutting and pasting of digital audio, the ability to edit gave rise to a "record consciousness," an approach that sought to move beyond the simple documentary function of the recording studio to exploit its potential for composition and experimentation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For flat areas this operation requires simply cutting and pasting the photographs together into a mosaic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are many variations in technique, but the four basic steps of decoupage generally are cutting out the pictures, arranging them to depict a scene or tell a story, pasting them on a surface, and applying several (sometimes up to 12) thin coats of varnish or lacquer to the pictures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a physical process like decoupage or adhering labels, use "pasting" to clearly convey the action of applying adhesive to attach materials. For digital contexts, consider "copying and pasting" for clarity.

Common error

While "pasting" is accurate for describing the action of inserting content, avoid overuse in technical documentation where more specific terms like "inserting", "importing", or "adding" might be more appropriate depending on the specific operation being performed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pasting" is that of a present participle, typically used to form continuous verb tenses or as a gerund. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of "pasting" in written English, especially in continuous tenses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "pasting" functions primarily as a present participle, denoting the action of adhering or affixing materials. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science, the word maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While semantically similar alternatives like "gluing" or "affixing" exist, "pasting" is particularly useful in describing physical processes involving adhesives or digital actions like "copying and pasting". Remember to avoid overusing "pasting" in highly technical contexts where more precise terms might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gluing

This alternative emphasizes the act of affixing something with adhesive, similar to "pasting".

affixing

This suggests attaching or fastening something, carrying a similar meaning to "pasting".

adhering

This emphasizes the act of sticking firmly to a surface, like "pasting".

sticking

This is a more informal way of saying "pasting", implying attachment.

attaching

This means to join or fasten something, analogous to "pasting".

fastening

This implies securing something in place, similar to "pasting".

securing

This suggests making something firm and stable, like "pasting" something down.

cementing

This implies a strong and lasting bond, akin to "pasting" for permanence.

applying adhesive

This is a more descriptive phrase for the act of "pasting".

bonding

This refers to creating a connection between two surfaces, similar to "pasting".

FAQs

How is "pasting" used in arts and crafts?

In arts and crafts, "pasting" refers to adhering materials together using an adhesive. This is common in activities such as decoupage, scrapbooking, and creating collages, where various elements are affixed to a surface to form a decorative piece.

What does "pasting" mean in the context of computer operations?

In computer operations, "copying and pasting" refers to duplicating data from one location to another. It involves selecting content, copying it to a clipboard, and then inserting it into a new location.

What are some alternatives to using "pasting" when referring to sticking something?

Alternatives to "pasting" when referring to sticking something include "gluing", "affixing", or "adhering". The choice depends on the specific context and the type of adhesive used.

Is it correct to use "pasting" when referring to sticking digital images?

Yes, it is correct to use "pasting" when referring to sticking digital images, especially when describing the action of inserting an image from a clipboard into a document or application. However, depending on the software, terms like "inserting" or "importing" might also be appropriate.