speeding

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "speeding" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is going faster than the posted speed limit. For example, "The police officer stopped the car for speeding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thinking they are heading uphill they accelerate – only to discover they are speeding along faster than intended.

The Guardian - Travel

I guess that's how you'd spend a week - chilling out on the boat and then speeding off to splash around on beaches and wander around town.

The Guardian - Travel

A five minute video of breathtaking grandiosity followed, with a deep-voiced narrator starting off slowly and gruffly before speeding up into something like a mild ecstasy at the notion of launching Ben Carson into the White House instead of the sun.

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: Amtrak crash: safety mechanism to slow speeding trains was close to operational Gaines worked as a staffer with the news agency for 17 years, his colleagues fondly referring to him as a "geek's geek", in the wire's announcement of his death.

The Guardian

It does not claim to be comprehensive but it has recorded 723 arrests and citations since 2000 for offences more serious than speeding – 30 of them coming in the seven months since the last Super Bowl.

The Guardian

MiniDrivers (Free + IAP) Sitting somewhere between Mario Kart and Micro Machines, this pocket-sized racer sees you speeding around 20 tracks grabbing power-ups to see off rival drivers.

The Guardian - Tech

They have their place but these alone are inadequate to the task of delivering a fair, united society at a time when technology cycles are speeding up, new economic competitors are on the rise and the makeup and identity of our country are evolving.

The Guardian

Andy Bull Cycling offered many favourite moments: Bradley Wiggins speeding past Luis León Sánchez in the time trial, the women's pursuit team closing on the Americans in the final, Laura Trott's utter mastery of the elimination, the tears of Chris Hoy.

The Guardian - Sport

As soon as the bus started speeding through farmland, I knew getting out of the city had been the right thing to do.

The Guardian - Travel

If proportional representation is not speeding to the top of the political agenda soon, then a large proportion of the voting population will continue to be disenfranchised, their votes will be seen to have unequal value and impact to others and people's disengagement with politics will only grow deeper.

The Guardian

The sorry tale of Chris Huhne, Vicky Pryce, the speeding points and the jail sentences was a perfect illustration of the old adage: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we leave our wives for a bisexual press strategist".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal matters, specify the context: "speeding" implies violating a specific speed limit. If no violation occurs, use "accelerating" or "moving quickly".

Common error

Be precise: "speeding" implies exceeding a limit, but if you only intend to describe fast movement, other terms may be more appropriate. Use "accelerating" to describe getting faster. If you want to describe a speed violation, provide extra details about "speeding", such as the road or area where it happened.

Linguistic Context

The term "speeding" primarily functions as a gerund or present participle, often denoting the act of exceeding a speed limit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly and effectively communicates this idea. Consider examples provided by Ludwig where "speeding" describes the violation of the law, or situations of fast movement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Travel

11%

Tech

7%

Less common in

Sport

4%

Opinion

4%

Lifestyle

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "speeding" is a grammatically sound term that is typically used to describe the act of exceeding a speed limit or moving at a high velocity. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. This term is most frequently used in news and media, and while broadly understandable, writers should be mindful of the specific context, choosing alternative terms like "accelerating" when no law is broken, or "reckless driving" when describing very dangerous situations. Ludwig's examples illustrate this usage across a range of reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeding the speed limit

Replaces the gerund form with a more formal, descriptive phrase.

driving too fast

Simplifies the term using common vocabulary.

accelerating rapidly

Focuses on the action of increasing speed, rather than necessarily exceeding a limit.

traveling at high velocity

Uses more technical language to describe fast movement.

reckless driving

Implies that the speed is not just high, but also dangerous.

going at breakneck speed

Uses an idiomatic expression to emphasize extreme speed.

moving swiftly

A more general term for moving quickly, without necessarily implying a speed violation.

making haste

A more formal or literary way of saying moving quickly.

zipping along

An informal, almost playful way of describing rapid movement.

rushing

Focuses on the urgency behind the movement.

FAQs

How is "speeding" used in a sentence?

"Speeding" can be used as a gerund (noun) or a present participle (adjective). For example, "The ticket was for speeding" (noun) or "The speeding car crashed" (adjective).

What's the difference between "speeding" and "accelerating"?

"Speeding" usually implies exceeding a speed limit, while "accelerating" simply means increasing speed, without necessarily breaking any rules.

What can I say instead of "speeding"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "driving too fast", "exceeding the speed limit", or "reckless driving".

Is "speeding" always negative?

While "speeding" often implies a violation or danger, it can sometimes be used neutrally to describe rapid movement. However, consider the context to avoid misinterpretation.