shepherding us through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shepherding us through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone guiding or leading a group through a process or experience, often with care and support. Example: "The mentor has been shepherding us through the complexities of the project, ensuring we understand each step."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"But it's necessary for shepherding us through this phase".

The New Yorker

He was the evening's pillar of stability, shepherding us through the music's heavy, glutinous textures with comments such as: "We haven't trodden these boards for a while".

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Poor Michael, who I knew was suffering far more than the audience members, was still trying to shepherd us through it, from the stage.

The New Yorker

Flaherty understands that these biological theories may shock people who still cherish the idea that art comes from something other than the action of neurotransmitters, and she spends many intelligent pages trying to shepherd us through the difficulty of accepting that the mind is actually the brain, a physical organ.

The New Yorker

We watched "The Soul of Night," in which a narrator shepherded us through the constellations and the Milky Way, and across the North American skies as they might have appeared through the eons, accompanied by a heavenly soundtrack of works by Wagner and others.

The New York Times - Travel

In lieu of a narrator who might shepherd us calmly through the fractious events in Missouri, we are treated to a busy collage of interviews, archival footage, and tweets, plus a load of cell-phone-video clips, freshly caught from the flow of the streets.

The New Yorker

In lieu of a narrator who might shepherd us calmly through the fractious events in Missouri, we are treated to a busy collage of interviews, archive footage, and tweets, plus a load of cell-phone-video clips, freshly caught from the flow of the streets.

The New Yorker

The chief explainer is Johns, who, for all the foulness of his mouth, shepherds us through the arguments that beset the use of drones, both for ("Of all the bad options, we're the least bad") and against ("Used to be, we go to war with a country, we'd actually go to the country").

The New Yorker

Like priests, movers shepherd us through life's transitions; like cowboys, truckers drive the roads we'll never know.

The New Yorker

The image shepherds us through the rest of the book even after we are shown other, clearer photos of the boy's malformations — Ian reading a newspaper, Walker leaning back in his arms, and the two of them at peace.

The New York Times - Books

And here is Katharine Brooks shepherding readers through a tricky stretch of "You Majored in What?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience: the phrase is appropriate for general audiences but can be replaced with "guiding" or "leading" in formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "shepherding us through" in contexts where a more direct or literal term like "guiding" or "leading" would be more appropriate. Overuse can make your writing sound unnatural or forced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shepherding us through" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of guiding or leading a group. It often implies a sense of care and support during a process, especially when navigating complexities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shepherding us through" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that implies guiding or leading a group with care and support, especially through a complex or challenging process. Ludwig AI validates its use in written English. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to be mindful of context and audience, opting for more direct alternatives like "guiding" or "leading" in highly formal settings. Predominantly found in News & Media, this phrase evokes a sense of careful navigation and proactive assistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

guiding us through

Focuses on the act of leading and directing, removing the pastoral metaphor.

leading us through

Emphasizes direction and control, a more direct alternative.

navigating us through

Highlights the complexity of the journey and the need for skillful guidance.

steering us through

Suggests control and course correction, implying potential challenges.

escorting us through

Implies a protective and formal guidance.

walking us through

Highlights a detailed, step-by-step explanation and demonstration.

mentoring us through

Focuses on providing advice and support based on experience.

facilitating our progress

Emphasizes making the process easier and smoother.

managing our journey

Highlights overseeing and coordinating the overall process.

supervising our advancement

Suggests oversight and ensuring standards are met as progress is made.

FAQs

What does "shepherding us through" mean?

The phrase "shepherding us through" means to guide or lead a group of people through a process or experience, often implying care, support, and protection, similar to how a shepherd cares for their flock.

What can I say instead of "shepherding us through"?

You can use alternatives like "guiding us through", "leading us through", or "navigating us through" depending on the context.

Is "shepherding us through" formal or informal?

"Shepherding us through" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. In very formal contexts, consider using "guiding us through" or "leading us through".

How can I use "shepherding us through" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone helping others navigate a difficult or complex situation, for example: "The project manager is "shepherding us through" the implementation phase".