staying

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "staying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of remaining in a particular place or condition. Example: "I will be staying at my friend's house for the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But after five years of hard labour, staying in looks like a life sentence without remission.

The Guardian - Business

The same of course is also true of the Labour-SNP bloc of seats: even if Nicola Sturgeon's party were to win in 30-40 constituencies, and not in the 50 or more implied in the polls, most of those seats would be staying with Labour.

The Guardian

Lesula is fully capable of getting up there, but apparently, they are quite happy staying down on the ground.

The Guardian

He is no fan of bureaucratic blocs but if it comes down to a choice between Britain getting out of the EU or staying, he would stay in".

The Guardian

"We'll try and win every game," Caldwell said afterwards, satisfied with the performance but aware that their chances of staying up are remote.

The Guardian - Sport

In January and February guests can swap their wetsuits for skis and head to Oukmedian for a couple of days' skiing, staying at a Berber mountain chalet.

The Guardian - Travel

What they did not mention was that she had just returned from neighbouring Guinea, where she had been staying with her father before he died.

The Guardian

He added that proponents of a short term extension were able to argue that supporting the bill meant staying on Capitol Hill all week.

The Guardian

Seven had to evacuate its Martin Place glass studios and relocate and build a temporary Sydney newsroom and TV studio in its corporate Pyrmont offices, all while staying on air and providing rolling coverage.

The Guardian

Gormley said the Greens were committed to staying in government.

The Guardian

We were staying over the river at Lamellyon, a 17th-century farm complex with a roundhouse converted for holiday lets.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "staying" when describing temporary situations or visits to emphasize the non-permanent nature of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "staying" in highly formal contexts such as academic papers or legal documents. Opt for words like "remaining" or "residing" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "staying" is as a present participle, often forming part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "I am staying") or functioning as a gerund or verbal noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable presence in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Travel

14%

Sport

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "staying" functions primarily as a present participle, describing the act of remaining in a specific place or condition. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used. Its usage spans across diverse contexts, being particularly common in news, travel, and sports reporting. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "remaining" or "residing" might be preferable in academic or legal writing. As Ludwig examples show, "staying" is a versatile term suitable for describing temporary situations and ongoing states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining

Indicates a continuation in the same place or condition, similar to "staying" but often more formal.

so staying

Emphasizes the act of remaining or continuing, adding a directness to the statement.

residing

Implies a more permanent or official sense of inhabiting a place, compared to the temporary connotation of "staying".

lodging

Refers specifically to temporary accommodation, contrasting with the broader sense of "staying".

lingering

Implies a reluctance to leave or a prolongation of one's stay, adding an emotional aspect.

sojourning

Suggests a temporary stay, often in a foreign land, imparting a sense of journey.

sticking around

Similar to "hanging around", it implies informality and a casual decision to remain.

abiding

Implies adherence to rules or customs while remaining in a place, adding a layer of compliance.

hanging around

Suggests an informal and casual way of "staying", often without a specific purpose.

dwelling

Suggests living in a place, often with connotations of home and permanence, unlike the transient nature of "staying".

FAQs

How can I use "staying" in a sentence?

You can use "staying" to describe the act of remaining in a place or condition, as in "I am staying at a hotel" or "Staying positive is important".

What are some alternatives to "staying"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "remaining", "residing", or "lodging".

Is it correct to use "staying" in formal writing?

While "staying" is grammatically correct, it might be more appropriate to use more formal alternatives like "remaining" or "residing" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "staying" and "remaining"?

"Staying" often implies a temporary situation, while "remaining" can suggest a more permanent or indefinite state. Both words refer to continuing to be in a particular place or condition.