splitting

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "splitting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to refer to the action of separating something into two or more parts. For example, "He was splitting the firewood into smaller pieces with an axe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

In his confidential document on 16 March, Alexander wrote that it "would make it all but impossible for a coalition to be sustainable if it were formed, and extremely difficult to form without splitting the party".

The Guardian

We'd be inclined not to believe him about this, or the story about splitting a pair of boots ("I took the left, he took the right") with a friend for his first ever game, but since he did own up to diving and having a go at referees during his playing days in the same interview, we're prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The Guardian - Sport

Visiting his party headquarters, an upbeat Herzog talked about a "crucial" vote for the country and warned against splitting the anti-Netanyahu vote among the various centrist parties, including charismatic leader Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid Party.

The Guardian

I'm still in shock that they're splitting up," she says.

The Guardian - Music

Their hopes of greatly expanding those powers surged after Boris Johnson, the mayor of London and newly elected Conservative MP, admitted the Tories had to extend their offer to Scotland to prevent the union splitting apart.

The Guardian

Try splitting your journey into separate tickets – you don't even have to get off the train.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

The blow behind his ear left Thomson requiring five stitches – some reports say he almost lost his ear completely in the incident – and with a splitting headache for the rest of the match.

The Guardian - Sport

Seventy thousand devotees go crazy, and shower him with the kind of ear-splitting applause that is usually reserved for film stars, rock stars and royalty.

The Guardian - Film

In the 27th minute Hoops winger James Forrest sent Guidetti through on goal with a defence-splitting pass but the Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain was quick off his line to block the Swedish striker's shot.

The Guardian - Sport

"Most analysts here think that vote-splitting will help Harper and the Conservatives," says Ted Morton, a former Conservative politician and senior fellow at the Manning Foundation thinktank in Calgary.

The Guardian

Despite his well-known personal distaste for atom-splitting, he stayed resolutely on-message: no technology would be favoured, he said, but all would be welcome, including nuclear power.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "splitting", consider the context to ensure the connotation aligns with your intended meaning. For example, "splitting" a group can imply disagreement, whereas "splitting" resources suggests distribution.

Common error

Avoid using "splitting" when a more neutral term like "dividing" or "separating" would be more appropriate, especially in sensitive contexts where the negative connotations of "splitting" (discord, fracture) could be misconstrued.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "splitting" is as a verb in its present participle form, often used in continuous tenses (e.g., "is splitting"). As Ludwig AI states, it refers to the action of separating something into parts. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts such as "splitting the party", "splitting the vote", and "splitting time".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "splitting" functions primarily as a verb, signifying the act of dividing or separating something into parts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad usability. As demonstrated by Ludwig examples, "splitting" is frequently encountered in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific discussions. It's crucial to consider the potential connotations of the term, as it can sometimes imply discord or disruption. Alternatives like "dividing" or "separating" may be more appropriate in sensitive situations. "Splitting" exhibits a neutral register, with usage spanning from formal to informal depending on the context, making it a versatile term in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dividing up

Focuses on the action of dividing something into portions.

separating out

Emphasizes the act of distinguishing and isolating elements.

partitioning

Suggests a more formal or structured division.

breaking down

Implies simplifying something by dividing it into smaller parts.

allocating

Focuses on assigning portions to different recipients.

apportioning

Highlights the fairness or proportionality of the division.

dismembering

Suggests a forceful or destructive separation.

cleaving

Implies a sharp, decisive separation.

sundering

Suggests a violent or dramatic separation.

bisecting

Specifically refers to dividing something into two equal parts.

FAQs

How can I use "splitting" in a sentence?

You can use "splitting" to describe the action of dividing something into parts, such as, "The company is "splitting into two divisions"" or "We are "splitting the bill" equally".

What are some alternatives to the word "splitting"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "dividing", "separating", "partitioning", or "allocating".

When is it appropriate to use "splitting" versus "dividing"?

"Splitting" often implies a more forceful or disruptive separation than "dividing". Use "splitting" when emphasizing a break or fissure, and "dividing" for a more neutral separation of items or groups.

What does it mean when someone says they have a "splitting headache"?

A "splitting headache" is an idiom that means /s/severe+headache, intensely painful. It's a common expression to describe a very bad headache.