resolving

USAGE SUMMARY

"resolving" is a correct and common word used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the action of finding a solution or coming to an agreement. Example sentence: The two sides were able to resolve their differences by resolving the issue.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She spoke hours before Obama said he was "not happy" with the rollout and himself took "full responsibility" for resolving the problems with the rollout.

The Guardian

A century and a half later — and nearly a decade and a half after the sub was raised – just why the Hunley and its eight-man crew never returned is a mystery, albeit one that scientists may be closer to resolving.

The Guardian

The attack was reported as late-night political talks aimed at resolving outstanding peace process disagreements continued in Belfast.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, China has expressed regret over Annan's resignation and stressed support for the UN playing an important role in resolving the Syrian crisis.

The Guardian

They signalled they would abstain on their own policy, before latterly resolving to back it – and pleading with their MPs to follow.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Timor-Leste said there had still been a lack of progress on resolving a dispute between the two countries over a contentious oil and gas treaty, and warned it was "reserving its rights" on that issue.

The Guardian

The local parties need to make it clear that Tory cuts to public services and the welfare state are unacceptable Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin The fate of the Stormont house agreement, which was hailed as resolving a range of disputes destabilising power-sharing in Belfast, was thrown into uncertainty after an attempt to introduce welfare reforms fell in the assembly last week.

The Guardian

Feeding the frustration is the fact that problems which surfaced during the team's pre-season tournament don't seem to be resolving themselves.

The Guardian - Sport

The Senate thus looked poised to return to business as usual on Thursday, with a packed two-day schedule that included advancing trade legislation, a highway funding bill and resolving the Patriot Act impasse.

The Guardian

It was the first meeting between the two leaders since Poroshenko was elected in Ukraine and came during a week of intense diplomacy aimed at resolving the crisis in his country.

The Guardian

Despite this, in 2003 the US agreed to participate in the Six-Party talks hosted by China, aimed at resolving the DPRK nuclear impasse, alongside Japan, Russia and South Korea.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "resolving" when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of addressing a problem or conflict. It's particularly effective in describing diplomatic efforts, business negotiations, or personal conflicts where progress is being made but the final outcome is not yet certain.

Common error

Avoid using "resolving" to describe a problem that has already been completely solved. Instead, opt for terms like "resolved" or "solved" to indicate a completed action. "Resolving" suggests an active, continuous effort.

Linguistic Context

Resolving functions primarily as a present participle or gerund. As a present participle, it describes an ongoing action, like 'They are resolving the issue'. As a gerund, it acts as a noun, for example, 'The focus is on resolving conflicts peacefully'. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "resolving" is a versatile term primarily used as a present participle or gerund to denote the ongoing process of finding a solution or settling a dispute. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and widespread. Its frequency is considered very common, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While suitable for a range of settings, it’s essential to distinguish its continuous sense from completed actions, where "resolved" or "solved" would be more appropriate. As such, consider replacing "resolving" with terms such as "solving", "addressing", or "settling" when the situation calls for it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

solving

Emphasizes the act of finding an answer to a problem or puzzle.

finding a solution

Focuses on the action of discovering a way to overcome a problem, emphasizing the investigative aspect.

settling

Implies reaching an agreement or compromise, often in a dispute or conflict.

addressing

Highlights the act of dealing with or managing a problem or issue.

determining

Emphasizes the act of finding out or establishing something definitively.

working through

Suggests a process of careful consideration and effort to resolve an issue.

concluding

Implies finishing a process of reasoning or deliberation and arriving at a judgment.

untangling

Implies clarifying a complicated or confusing situation.

ironing out

Focuses on eliminating minor problems or inconsistencies to achieve a smoother result.

deciding

Highlights the action of making a choice or judgment after considering different options.

FAQs

How is "resolving" typically used in a sentence?

"Resolving" is often used as a present participle, describing an ongoing process of finding a solution or settling a dispute. For example, "They are "resolving the issue" through negotiation."

What words can I use instead of "resolving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "solving", "addressing", or "settling". Each of these words carries a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits your intended meaning.

Is it correct to use "resolving" to describe a past event?

While "resolving" typically describes an ongoing action, you can use it to describe a past process. However, for a completed action, it's better to use "resolved" or "solved".

What's the difference between "resolving" and "resolution"?

"Resolving" is a verb form indicating the action of finding a solution, while "resolution" is a noun referring to the solution itself or the act of making a firm decision. For instance, "They are resolving the conflict," versus "They reached a resolution."