thing by thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thing by thing" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to describe a process of addressing or considering items individually, but it is better to use more established phrases. Example: "We will go through the project details thing by thing to ensure nothing is overlooked."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Martin Galese, a 31-year-old lawyer in New York, is resurrecting bits and pieces of bygone eras, thing by thing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It cannot be grasped as anything at all: it things out thing after thing but is never thinged by things.

Huffington Post

People who bought Android phones in the past few weeks could be forgiven for keeping that information closely held, lest they be drawn into a tedious discussion of why they didn't choose the shiny new thing – the thing, by the way, that was created by the most brilliant and adored technology innovator in recent history.

The New York Times

The Vertical Dead pares things down even more in terms of structure, based as it is on one chord, although there is guitar extrapolation aplenty and halfway through it gives way to the sort of thing – and by "thing" we mean screams and avant-garde sonics – you might expect from a Yoko Ono album.

The Guardian - Music

An affirmative proposition is true just in case that the thing or things denoted by the subject term are in the class of things denoted by the predicate term; otherwise it is false.

SEP

Perhaps it is helpful to indicate the distinction between real and nominal definitions thus: to discover the real definition of a term \(X\) one needs to investigate the thing or things denoted by \(X\); to discover the nominal definition, one needs to investigate the meaning and use of \(X\).

SEP

There is no becoming, either of a thing by itself or of a thing out of some other thing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Romney has an uncanny ability to turn a bad thing into a worse thing by failing to be forthright.

The New York Times

But the biggest thing, by far the biggest thing, is to enable her to make good decisions.

The Guardian - Opinion

He did the right thing — the only thing — by dropping out of the race, but that is not going to make his troubles go away.

The New York Times

"If he had anything to say to the aspirant, it was Do your own thing; by definition your thing should be totally different from mine".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a detailed or reconstructive process, consider using "thing by thing" to emphasize the meticulous and individual nature of each step. For greater clarity, using alternative phrases such as "item by item" or "step by step" is generally better.

Common error

While "thing by thing" emphasizes individual consideration, avoid using it when the context already implies a detailed or sequential process. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thing by thing" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig indicates that this phrase isn't commonly used and can come across as somewhat awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "thing by thing" is used to describe a meticulous and individual approach. While grammatically correct, Ludwig suggests it's not particularly common and can sound awkward. More common alternatives include "item by item" or "step by step". Usage of "thing by thing" occurs in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedia sources. Despite its low frequency, understanding its meaning and potential alternatives can help refine your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

item by item

Replaces "thing" with "item", providing a more formal and specific tone.

step by step

Offers a common idiom that emphasizes a methodical and gradual approach.

one by one

Highlights the sequential and individual consideration of elements.

piece by piece

Suggests a construction or assembly process completed in stages.

bit by bit

Emphasizes the small increments involved in a gradual process.

detail by detail

Focuses on examining or addressing specifics in a meticulous manner.

element by element

Indicates a systematic and thorough breakdown of components.

part by part

Implies a progressive analysis or disassembly of something complex.

instance by instance

Highlights the individual examination of specific occurrences or examples.

incrementally

A single-word adverb expressing a gradual and progressive manner.

FAQs

How can I use "thing by thing" in a sentence?

You can use "thing by thing" to describe a process where items are addressed individually, such as: "We will go through the project details thing by thing to ensure nothing is overlooked."

What are some alternatives to "thing by thing"?

Alternatives include "item by item", "step by step", or "one by one", depending on the specific context.

Is "thing by thing" grammatically correct?

The phrase "thing by thing" is grammatically acceptable, but may sound awkward. It is better to use more established phrases.

When should I use "thing by thing" instead of "step by step"?

While both describe a gradual process, "thing by thing" emphasizes individual items, whereas "step by step" focuses on sequential stages. Choose based on which aspect you want to highlight.