surface by swimming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surface by swimming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of coming to the surface of a body of water while swimming. Example: "After diving deep, I had to surface by swimming to catch my breath."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The animals get back to the surface by actively swimming and using up their last stores of oxygen.

The New York Times - Science

The motile cypris larvae of barnacles are 'choosy', that is, they explore the suitability of a surface for eventual adhesion by swimming over it, making 'sampling' contacts.

Nature

Aquatic prey is obtained by diving or by swimming on surface with the head submerged, and terrestrial insects and their larvae are picked off vegetation.

Wikipedia

Humans come into contact with N. fowleri by swimming or bathing, particularly in surface waters.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Comb Duck often grazes on small fish and invertebrates by swimming slowly and dabbling on the surface.

Cornell University

Lung capacity can be trained by swimming underwater until the last second and then surfacing for air.

WikiHow

Aquatic locomotion, in animals, movement through water either by swimming or by progression in contact with the substrate (i.e., the bottom or other surfaces).

Britannica

He exercises by swimming.

Independent

Fish in nature are believed to favor their swimming performance by swimming in a school.

Ocean Engineering

"I've always done that by swimming".

The New York Times - Sports

The swimming portion consisted of swimming 25 m back and forth four times at full strength followed by swimming the same distance four times at low speeds.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surface by swimming" to clearly indicate active movement towards the surface of water, especially when contrasting it with passive surfacing methods like floating. This phrase specifies the means of reaching the surface.

Common error

Avoid using "surface by swimming" when the context implies a passive rise to the surface. If the subject is simply floating upwards, a phrase like "float to the surface" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surface by swimming" functions as a descriptive verbal phrase, indicating a specific action of reaching the water's surface through active swimming. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surface by swimming" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of reaching the water's surface through active swimming. While the phrase is technically sound, Ludwig AI indicates its usage is less common compared to alternatives like "swim to the surface". Given the phrase's explicitness, it is best suited for contexts where the method of surfacing (active swimming) needs to be emphasized. Despite its correctness, it's important to consider more frequent alternatives for general use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Swim to the surface

A more direct way of expressing the same action, omitting "by".

Come up by swimming

Informal way of saying "surface", indicating approach to the top through motion.

Ascend by swimming

Focuses on the upward movement achieved through swimming.

Rise by swimming

Focuses on the upward movement, similar to "ascend", but with a slightly different connotation.

Reach the surface by swimming

Emphasizes the act of arriving at the top through motion in the water

Get to the surface by swimming

Emphasizes the effort required to arrive at the water's top.

Emerge by swimming

Highlights the act of coming out of the water through the described action.

Break the surface by swimming

This emphasizes the act of penetrating the water surface.

Propel oneself to the surface

More technical way of expressing the same action, highlighting effort and motion.

Float to the surface

Suggests a passive movement upwards, contrasted with the active movement in "surface by swimming".

FAQs

How can I use "surface by swimming" in a sentence?

You can use "surface by swimming" to describe an action of actively moving toward the water's surface. For example: "After diving deep, I had to surface by swimming to catch my breath."

What is a more common way to say "surface by swimming"?

A more common way to express the same idea is to use the phrase "swim to the surface", which is simpler and more direct.

Is "surface by swimming" grammatically correct?

Yes, "surface by swimming" is grammatically correct, but it's less commonly used than other similar phrases like "swim to the surface".

When should I use "surface by swimming" instead of "swim to the surface"?

Use "surface by swimming" when you want to specifically emphasize the method of surfacing involves active swimming, as opposed to floating or being pulled up.