perceiving that

USAGE SUMMARY

"perceiving that" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has become aware of something, either through observation or by inference. For example, "Perceiving that the sun was setting, he quickly put away his tools and started back home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An alternative way of distinguishing between sensing and perceiving that has become widely accepted is physiological-anatomical rather than psychological.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Beyond sex differences in perceiving that seem to be culturally imposed, there is evidence for more general cultural influences on perception.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"As long as we keep winning B.C.S. bowl games and batting about.750 out of conference, they can keep perceiving that and maybe teams won't get up when they play us.

The New York Times - Sports

Perceiving that from her smoking habit alone was impressive supposition.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Perceiving that it was is a good thing".

The New York Times - Sports

"The curvature of the screen tricks the brain into perceiving that you're not overpaying".

The New Yorker

I was scandalized but thrilled, perceiving that a defense against my mother was possible.

The New Yorker

"They are accurately perceiving that they are being squashed by the political economy and government of the US.

The Guardian

He pursued this as a vocation until his thirties, when he abruptly changed course perceiving that "there was no humanity" in the work he was doing.

The Guardian

"Upon perceiving that they voted for one person and elected another, the majority of the population started to want her head".

The New York Times

Perceiving that his children have been ruined by privilege and consigned to aimlessness, King also squirms under the imagined reproach of his ancestors.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal or academic writing, employ this phrase to describe participants' subjective experiences or psychological states without definitively claiming an objective fact.

Common error

Do not use "perceiving that" when you are describing a simple, literal observation with no interpretive element. For example, use "seeing the red light" instead of "perceiving that the light was red" unless you specifically intend to discuss the mental process of color identification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perceiving that" functions as a present participial phrase followed by a complementizer. In this structure, "perceiving" acts as the head of the phrase, governing a subordinate "that" clause which functions as its direct object. This construction is highly effective for establishing a character's or subject's viewpoint within a narrative or scientific report. Ludwig AI confirms this as a standard and correct way to introduce cognitive or sensory states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Professional

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "perceiving that" is a robust and grammatically correct expression favored in sophisticated writing. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is typically used to indicate that someone has become aware of something through observation or inference. Whether in a scientific context discussing sensory reactivation or a historical narrative describing a general's tactical shift, the phrase serves as a precise tool for articulating the intersection of sight and thought. By using alternatives like "sensing that" or "discerning that", writers can further refine the specific type of awareness they wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sensing that

Emphasizes an intuitive or purely physical gut feeling over intellectual deduction

realizing that

Focuses on the sudden moment of mental clarity or understanding

noticing that

Highlights a specific observation made through visual or auditory attention

observing that

Suggests a more objective and systematic witnessing of a situation

discerning that

Implies the ability to distinguish subtle details or complex truths

recognizing that

Stresses the identification of something familiar or previously known

detecting that

Often used when the object of awareness is faint, hidden or small

apprehending that

A more formal and philosophical term for grasping a concept or danger

noting that

A neutral way to mention an observation, often in formal reporting

seeing that

A common, more literal expression that can also serve as a causal connector

FAQs

How to use "perceiving that" in a sentence?

You can use it at the start of a clause to show a character's realization, such as "perceiving that the meeting was over, she stood up to leave".

What is the difference between "sensing that" and "perceiving that"?

While both involve awareness, "sensing that" usually refers to a gut instinct or physical sensation, whereas "perceiving that" suggests a combination of sensory input and mental interpretation.

Is "perceiving that" formal?

Yes, it is considered a neutral to formal phrase. It is frequently found in academic journals, literary fiction and high-quality journalism like The New York Times.

What can I use instead of "perceiving that"?

Depending on your focus, you could use "noticing that" for visual cues, "realizing that" for mental epiphanies, or "discerning that" for complex observations.