remark in passing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "remark in passing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that a comment or observation is made casually or without much emphasis. Example: "During the meeting, she made a remark in passing about the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Okay so that was really what I wanted to say about this example, but let me just make a remark in passing.

Yale University

Young people remark in passing that they would rather be dead than go into a nursing home; that they do not want to die in hospital; that they do not want a drawn-out, agonising end.

The Economist

We remark in passing that the result (1.10) is a presumably new result.

Advances in Difference Equations

(We remark in passing that identity (5.1), while valid for the Bochner Martinelli generating form, is not true for general η.) □.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

We remark in passing that Byrne's CQ algorithm (1.2) is indeed a special case of the classical gradient projection method (GPM).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

We remark in passing that f is totally convex on bounded sets if and only if f is uniformly convex on bounded sets; see [25, 26].

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Now we have millions of dollars," Mr. Espada remarked in passing.

The New York Times

The Royal Court Nicholas Hytner, artistic director of the National Theatre, remarked in passing at a news conference this year that to attend a show at the Royal Court more likely than not meant finding yourself at the best new play in town.

The New York Times - Arts

I'm sorry, but the failure to clear up this misconception has done a great deal of harm — and this harm is not significantly mitigated by various remarks in passing to the effect that austerity might be overdone.

The New York Times

That ended in February 2005 when he remarked in passing to a Swiss journalist that though a million Armenians had been killed in the country of his birth, no one talked about it.

The Guardian

(In the booklet for "Porgy and Bess," he remarks in passing that Sarastro, the sonorous mouthpiece of humanitarian wisdom in "The Magic Flute," is in truth a liar and scoundrel. His argument rests not on literary evidence but on fine musical points).

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remark in passing" to indicate that a comment is not central to the main discussion and is mentioned briefly. This can help signal to your audience that the point is secondary.

Common error

Avoid using "remark in passing" too frequently, as it can make your writing seem less direct and more roundabout. If a point is important, give it due attention rather than relegating it to a passing remark.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remark in passing" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb, indicating the manner in which something is said or noted – briefly and often incidentally. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remark in passing" is a useful phrase to introduce a brief, often tangential, comment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and finds frequent use across a spectrum of sources, including science, news media, and academia. It's best used when you want to downplay the importance of a statement or indicate it's not the main point. While versatile, be mindful of overuse, as too many passing remarks can dilute the impact of your writing. Consider alternatives like "brief mention" or "incidental comment" to maintain variety in your writing. By understanding its function and avoiding common pitfalls, you can effectively incorporate "remark in passing" into your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passing comment

Very similar, but 'passing' acts as an adjective to 'comment' rather than part of a prepositional phrase.

incidental comment

This is more concise, focusing on the casual, unplanned nature of the remark.

brief mention

This focuses on the brevity of the remark, suitable when the length is key.

casual observation

Emphasizes the lack of formality and the observational nature of the statement.

aside

A more direct and succinct way to indicate a deviation from the main topic.

tangential remark

Highlights that the comment is related to the main topic but not central to it.

fleeting observation

Stresses the very short duration and perhaps the transient nature of the thought.

parenthetical comment

Indicates the remark is added as extra information, like something in parentheses.

throwaway line

Implies the remark was delivered without much thought or importance.

cursory note

Highlights that the comment is brief and lacks thoroughness.

FAQs

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

You can use "remark in passing" to introduce a brief, often tangential, comment within a larger discussion. For example, "He made a "remark in passing" about the budget cuts, but quickly moved on to the main topic".

What's the difference between "remark in passing" and "passing comment"?

While very similar, "remark in passing" functions as a phrase describing how something was said, whereas "passing comment" uses "passing" as an adjective to describe the type of comment made.

What are some alternatives to "remark in passing"?

You can use alternatives like "brief mention", "casual observation", or "incidental comment" depending on the context.

Is "remark in passing" formal or informal?

"Remark in passing" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used in academic writing, news reports, and general conversation to indicate a casual or secondary point.