reflecting on how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'reflecting on how' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to express the idea of looking back and trying to make sense of something. For example: After losing the game, he spent some time reflecting on how his team had not been prepared.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Allman, who has a ticket to attend Friday's ceremony, is one of many Texans who will be reflecting on how the tragedy was imprinted on their lives.

Los Angeles Times

I paged through nostalgically, reflecting on how far I'd come.

The New Yorker

Ms. Dolinsky chuckles to herself, reflecting on how much she's changed.

The New York Times

It is also worth reflecting on how the current system works.

The Guardian

"It also represents immense pride for many Aussies, reflecting on how far we've come".

The Guardian - Music

Places like it, where we can witness beauty while reflecting on how to preserve it, have become all too rare.

The New York Times

Even as he stands for another day, Arab leaders will still be reflecting on how and where they should go.

Independent

Write an article for your school newspaper stating your findings, and reflecting on how you feel about what you learned.

The New York Times

Reflecting on how the art world has grown over the last 45 years, Mrs. Vogel said: "It's too overwhelming.

The New York Times - Arts

So Nielson dug out a few old reports from his files, and started reflecting on how the internet began.

The Guardian - Tech

It is worth reflecting on how extraordinarily lucky we who are doctors, or doctors-to-momentarily-be, are.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reflecting on how" to introduce a moment of thoughtful consideration regarding past actions or events and their impact.

Common error

Avoid using "reflecting on how" when discussing future or hypothetical scenarios. It is best suited for analyzing past experiences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reflecting on how" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause that expresses contemplation or consideration of a process or outcome. It often sets the stage for an analysis or evaluation, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reflecting on how" is a versatile phrase used to introduce a thoughtful consideration of past events, processes, or outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms it's a correct and acceptable phrase. It is frequently employed in news and media, science, and formal business contexts to facilitate analysis and insight. While grammatically sound and widely used, it is best suited for analyzing past experiences rather than discussing future scenarios. To vary your writing, consider alternatives such as "considering how" or "thinking about how". As exemplified in Ludwig, the phrase helps frame retrospective analyses and derive meaningful conclusions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considering how

Focuses more on the act of taking something into account.

thinking about how

Emphasizes the mental process of pondering.

pondering how

Suggests a more deliberate and thoughtful consideration.

contemplating how

Implies a deep and serious reflection.

assessing how

Highlights the evaluation aspect of the process.

evaluating how

Focuses on judging the effectiveness or value.

analyzing how

Stresses a detailed examination of the process.

examining how

Implies a careful and thorough investigation.

reviewing how

Suggests looking back to understand a process.

remembering how

Focuses on recalling past events or methods.

FAQs

How can I use "reflecting on how" in a sentence?

Use "reflecting on how" to introduce a consideration of a past event's process or consequences. For example, "Reflecting on how the project unfolded, we identified key areas for improvement."

What phrases are similar to "reflecting on how"?

Similar phrases include "considering how", "thinking about how", or "pondering how", each offering a slightly different nuance in meaning.

Is "reflecting on how" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "reflecting on how" is suitable for formal writing, especially when analyzing past events or decisions. However, consider using alternatives like "assessing how" for a more analytical tone in business or academic contexts.

Can "reflecting on how" be used to discuss future events?

No, "reflecting on how" is typically used to analyze past events. For future scenarios, use phrases like "considering how we will" or "planning how to" instead.