sitting quietly

USAGE SUMMARY

'sitting quietly' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe someone who is sitting and not making any noise or movement, for example, "The children were sitting quietly in the corner, listening to the story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You are sitting quietly in your study.

The New York Times - Style

He'd been sitting quietly at a table.

The New Yorker

Except sitting quietly has never suited today's Saracens.

Independent

Cai, who had been sitting quietly, introduced herself.

The New Yorker

Politicians sitting quietly together in a room is a start.

The Guardian - Opinion

All five defendants were in the courtroom on Monday, sitting quietly and leafing through papers.

The New York Times

For me individually, happiness is sitting quietly in meditation, it is a good conversation with friends.

Independent

I remember sitting quietly as the movie ended, letting its profundity wash over me.

The New Yorker

The mystery was solved when the owner, who was sitting quietly across the street, approached.

The New York Times

They noticed that an older black woman, humbly dressed, had come in and was sitting quietly.

The New York Times

That time I was sitting quietly in a park in Oxford, reading Middlemarch.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sitting quietly" to describe a scene or action where the absence of noise or movement is significant. For instance, it can create a sense of anticipation, contemplation, or peacefulness.

Common error

Avoid using "sitting quietly" when the context requires a more active or dynamic description. Overusing it can lead to a monotonous tone if other actions or sensory details are not included to enrich the scene.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sitting quietly" functions as a participial phrase, often modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being or action performed without noise or disturbance. Ludwig AI shows it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sitting quietly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes a state of stillness and lack of noise. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used across various contexts, from News & Media to Science, often to create a specific mood or highlight a character's behavior. Remember to use it when the absence of noise or movement is significant to the scene or action you're describing. Alternatives such as "remaining still" or "staying silent" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being still

A more general term for not moving or making noise.

remaining still

Focuses on the lack of movement rather than any implied quietness.

staying silent

Emphasizes the absence of speech, though not necessarily physical stillness.

resting peacefully

Implies a state of relaxation and tranquility while at rest.

maintaining silence

Suggests a deliberate choice to be quiet.

keeping mum

An idiomatic expression for remaining silent or secretive.

observing quietly

Highlights the act of watching without interrupting or speaking.

meditating silently

Specific to the practice of meditation, implying inner stillness.

composing oneself

Suggests an effort to calm down and become still.

becoming placid

Indicates a transition into a calm and undisturbed state.

FAQs

How can I use "sitting quietly" in a sentence?

You can use "sitting quietly" to describe someone or something that is not making noise or moving, such as "The cat was "sitting quietly" by the window" or "They were "sitting quietly" during the concert".

What are some alternatives to "sitting quietly"?

Alternatives to "sitting quietly" include "remaining still", "staying silent", or "resting peacefully", depending on the specific context.

Is it always necessary to specify the manner of sitting when describing someone?

No, specifying the manner of sitting, such as with "sitting quietly", is only necessary when the calmness or lack of noise is relevant to the context. Otherwise, "sitting" alone may suffice.

What does "sitting quietly" imply in a scene?

The phrase "sitting quietly" can imply various things depending on the context, such as contemplation, patience, or even unease. It suggests a deliberate lack of activity or noise, which can create a specific mood or atmosphere.