picking him up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "picking him up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of collecting someone, typically in a vehicle, or to indicate lifting someone physically. Example: "I will be picking him up from the airport at 5 PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He spent time with Justin, taking him to school and picking him up, advising on homework.

The New Yorker

The guy had trouble picking him up and putting the bat on the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

My 20-month-old niece kept picking him up mid-performance for a hug.

The New York Times

A year later, she was picking him up from the hospital after surgery.

The New York Times

Picking him up at the shore, his girlfriend was not happy.

The New York Times

Surely some team is going to be picking him up, at a discount, shortly.

The Guardian - Sport

A car is picking him up at the pub, off to Dublin via Heathrow.

The Guardian - Music

He tried taxis, but said they were often late picking him up after work.

The New York Times

Two months later, I was picking him up at the airport.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Once in a while, you've just got to reach back and say, 'I'm picking him up today,' " Collins said.

The New York Times - Sports

Every day we were picking him up, dropping him at work, taking his lunch, picking him up in the afternoon and taking him back home, just to make sure he was getting the whole process.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "picking him up" in a written text, make sure that it is precise which 'him' you are talking about to avoid confusion for the readers.

Common error

Avoid using "picking him up" when you mean offering emotional support; use phrases like "supporting him" or "encouraging him" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picking him up" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe an action in progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and correct expression. The many examples available show diverse contexts, from retrieving someone from school to assisting after surgery.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "picking him up" is a very common and grammatically sound gerund phrase used to describe the action of retrieving someone, typically in a vehicle. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's versatile and appears frequently in various contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to choose alternative phrases like "supporting him" when describing emotional support. When writing, ensure you define who 'him' is and always check for context suitability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collecting him

Focuses on the act of gathering someone or something.

fetching him

Emphasizes the act of going to get someone and bringing them back.

giving him a ride

Highlights the transportation aspect.

transporting him

Focuses on the act of moving someone from one place to another.

taking him along

Implies including someone in a journey or activity.

accompanying him

Emphasizes the act of going with someone.

lifting him

Refers to the physical action of raising someone.

hoisting him up

Suggests lifting someone with some effort.

grabbing him

Implies quickly taking hold of someone.

receiving him

Highlights the act of welcoming or accepting someone.

FAQs

How to use "picking him up" in a sentence?

You can use "picking him up" to describe the action of collecting someone, often in a vehicle. For example, "I'm "picking him up" from school today".

What can I say instead of "picking him up"?

You can use alternatives like "collecting him", "fetching him", or "giving him a ride" depending on the context.

Is "picking him up" formal or informal?

"Picking him up" is generally considered informal and suitable for everyday conversations and writing. In more formal contexts, consider using "collecting him".

What's the difference between "picking him up" and "supporting him"?

"Picking him up" refers to the physical act of collecting someone, while "supporting him" refers to providing emotional or other forms of support.