swing wildly

USAGE SUMMARY

"swing wildly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate sudden and extreme movements. For example, "The pendulum clock's hands seemed to swing wildly as though pushing the boundaries of time itself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Prices swing wildly.

The Economist

You can swing wildly.

The New York Times

Given how Netflix shares swing wildly, this makes sense.

The New York Times

Global banks could fail, currencies could swing wildly and markets could suffer a long financial winter.

The New York Times

"When you're fighting Captain Hook, you don't just swing wildly," Rigby said.

The New Yorker

We'd swing wildly from pole to pole and pull ourselves up on the old metal straps.

The New York Times

He tended to swing wildly in one direction or the other.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Polls have swung wildly.

The New York Times

The jalopy swung wildly across the road.

The Economist

Men coated in sand swung wildly.

The New York Times - Sports

Swinging wildly and searching desperately for an exit".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swing wildly" to vividly describe unpredictable fluctuations in markets, emotions, or physical actions. This phrase adds dynamism and a sense of instability to your writing.

Common error

While versatile, "swing wildly" can sound less appropriate in highly formal or technical writing. Consider more precise alternatives like "fluctuate significantly" or "vary erratically" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "swing wildly" functions primarily as a verb phrase, typically used to modify a noun or pronoun. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a subject's actions or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Sport

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "swing wildly" is a versatile and commonly used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, denoting erratic or uncontrolled movement. Grammatically sound, it functions as a verb phrase, enriching descriptions by emphasizing instability. While acceptable across contexts, from news to academic writing, it may benefit from more precise alternatives in highly formal settings, like "fluctuate significantly". Top sources employing this phrase are primarily news outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Forbes, further indicating its place in mainstream communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fluctuate dramatically

Emphasizes the degree of fluctuation, suggesting large and sudden changes.

vary erratically

Highlights the unpredictable nature of the variations.

oscillate wildly

Implies a back-and-forth movement that is uncontrolled and extreme.

move erratically

Focuses on the irregular and unpredictable nature of the movement.

change unpredictably

Highlights the lack of predictability in the changes.

fluctuate unpredictably

Combines the idea of fluctuation with a lack of predictability.

shift dramatically

Indicates a significant and sudden change in position or state.

vary significantly

Emphasizes the magnitude of the variations.

alter abruptly

Highlights the suddenness and unexpectedness of the alterations.

change sporadically

Suggests that the changes occur at irregular intervals.

FAQs

How can I use "swing wildly" in a sentence?

You can use "swing wildly" to describe unpredictable movement or fluctuation. For example, "Stock prices "swing wildly" due to market uncertainty."

What are some alternatives to "swing wildly"?

Alternatives include "fluctuate dramatically", "vary erratically", or "oscillate wildly", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "swing wildly" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "swing wildly" may be perceived as informal in certain contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "fluctuate significantly" or "vary unpredictably" for business or academic documents.

What does it mean when someone says emotions "swing wildly"?

When emotions "swing wildly", it means a person is experiencing rapid and extreme changes in their emotional state, often without a clear or predictable pattern.