seeing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, often to indicate perception or understanding of something. Example: "Seeing the results of the experiment, we realized we needed to adjust our hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On average passengers are now paying £600 more for a season ticket and yet seeing no change in their pay packets".

The Guardian

"We, Germany and Britain, share the goal of seeing a strong competitive EU join forces," she said in her final words in German.

The Guardian

Indeed, you're already seeing a lot of them do exactly that.

The Economist

Related: The biggest story in the world podcast Braman founded the company after seeing divestment campaigner Bill McKibben present a talk in 2012.

The Guardian

How was I to explain to him that to me, seeing Achebe would be similar to, say, a Catholic coming face to face with his patron saint?

The Guardian - Books

That's one way of seeing it, but it does not seem to give sufficient credit to the work Republicans did to construct the trap themselves.

The Guardian

I wouldn't dismiss the psychological and political impact of Ian Paisley being, in his terms, kicked around for 40 years by the establishment and then seeing an opportunity to be the establishment and being unable to resist it".

The Guardian

I cheered upon seeing female athletes talk periods in response to Watson, including Annabel Croft, Paula Radcliffe, and athlete Jessica Judd, who told the BBC that doctors trialled a drug on her because she had her period, and it didn't work.

The Guardian - Opinion

I'm more concerned about working-class people who are seeing their wages driven down by immigration".

The Guardian

This will stop the hacker seeing anything useful as it will all be garbled nonsense passing over the network.

The Guardian - Tech

"The Act is robust and we have had 13 years of monitoring by animal welfare groups and Police Scotland without seeing the Scottish court system backed up with cases".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seeing" to describe the act of perceiving with your eyes or understanding something. For variety, consider using synonyms like "observing" or "noticing" depending on the context.

Common error

In formal writing, overuse of "seeing" can sound informal. Opt for more precise verbs like "observing", "detecting", or "recognizing" to enhance clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "seeing" is that of a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing ongoing actions or states, like "seeing no change" or "seeing growing interest". As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Music

10%

Sport

8%

Less common in

Business

5%

Lifestyle

4%

Arts

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "seeing" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase with diverse applications. It functions primarily as a present participle, conveying visual perception, understanding, or acting as a conjunction. Predominantly found in News & Media, Music and Sport contexts, it maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for various writing styles. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English writing. While versatile, formal contexts may benefit from more precise alternatives like "observing" or "detecting". Overall, "seeing" remains a reliable and frequently used term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Observing

Focuses on the act of watching something carefully.

Noticing

Implies becoming aware of something.

Witnessing

Suggests being present when something happens.

Perceiving

Emphasizes understanding through the senses.

Realizing

Highlights the moment of understanding or becoming aware.

Detecting

Implies discovering something not easily noticed.

Spotting

Suggests finding something quickly or unexpectedly.

Grasping

Focuses on understanding a concept or idea.

Comprehending

Implies a thorough understanding of something.

Envisioning

Suggests imagining or foreseeing something.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "seeing"?

You can use alternatives like "observing", "noticing", or "realizing" depending on the context.

How to use "seeing" in a sentence?

"Seeing" can be used as a verb (e.g., "I am seeing a movie tonight"), or as a conjunction (e.g., "Seeing as you're busy, I'll leave you to it").

Which is correct, "seeing that" or "seeing as"?

Both "seeing that" and "seeing as" are acceptable conjunctions, but "seeing that" is slightly more formal and common. They both introduce a reason or explanation.

What's the difference between "seeing" and "watching"?

"Seeing" generally refers to the act of perceiving with your eyes, while "watching" implies a more focused and intentional observation over a period of time.