touching

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "touching" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as an adjective to describe something that is emotionally moving, such as a poem or a story. Example sentence: The bride and groom's vows were so touching that many guests had tears in their eyes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The ball landed in the arms of the Harlequins centre, Joe Marchant, who acrobatically kept his feet clear of the touchline before touching down.

The Guardian - Sport

Ashley Williams appeared amused by the incident, joking: "I've got my passport!" The Swansea defender added: "Most people did not realise anything was wrong until we were on the plane, he is touching down any moment I think.

The Guardian - Sport

The cafe is packed with young people drinking coffee and discussing, with touching Gallic intensity, film theory, Marxism and Jean-Luc Godard (his latest film has just been screened in the neighbouring cinema).

The Guardian - Film

Stewart's first monologue following the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 was sincere, touching and incredibly difficult to watch.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The East End shoot-out at the end of The Man Who Knew Too Much inevitably recalls the Sidney Street siege, and memories of murderous continental anarchists; here Lorre was an émigré actor touching on the nation's darkest fantasies of an immigrant intrusion.

The Guardian - Film

Madrid health authorities have claimed that Romero contracted the disease after touching the face of the Spanish missionary she was treating.

The Guardian

The ground, and it is a ground not a stadium, rises up straight – square, concrete, steep, 14,700 fans within touching distance of the pitch.

The Guardian - Sport

The last 25 minutes of the game produced 20 points and it was fitting that Whineray should score the final try of the tour, taking a pass from his centre Paul Little, before ignoring Colin Meads outside him to sell an outrageous dummy to the Barbarians full-back and touching down beneath the posts.

The Guardian - Sport

Following the seven-way debate, Miliband was able to keep in touching distance on that particular question.

The Guardian

Dolphin Encounter (dolphin.co.nz, £60pp) takes boats out to view them - there are no artificial lures and no falsely engineered touching.

The Guardian - Travel

Glad to see Timothy Garton Ash touching on the question of corruption in parliament (It's not just parliament's buildings that require extensive renovation, 28 March).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional stories or events, use "touching" to convey a sense of poignancy and empathy. Be mindful of the context to ensure the word aligns with the intended emotional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "touching" excessively in formal or professional writing where a more objective or neutral term might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "relevant", "related", or "affecting" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "touching" primarily functions as a present participle or gerund form of the verb 'to touch'. It can also function as an adjective, describing something emotionally moving. Ludwig examples confirm these uses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

20%

Lifestyle

15%

Less common in

Opinion

8%

Travel

7%

Music

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "touching" is a versatile word that can function as a verb or an adjective. It is frequently used in news, sports, and lifestyle contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples. As described by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and is often used to describe something emotionally moving. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives like "relevant" or "affecting" in professional writing. Understanding these nuances will help you use the word "touching" effectively and appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emotionally moving

Stresses the capacity to evoke strong feelings.

heartwarming

Highlights the pleasant and emotionally positive impact.

in contact with

Emphasizes the state of being physically connected or close to something.

affecting

Focuses on the emotional or impactful aspect of something.

impacting

Emphasizes the influence or effect on something.

in proximity to

Highlights closeness in distance or relationship.

pertinent to

Emphasizes direct relevance and connection to a specific topic.

relating to

Highlights the connection or relevance to a particular subject.

adjacent to

Specifies physical nearness or bordering relationship.

grazing

Implies a light or gentle physical contact.

FAQs

How can I use "touching" in a sentence?

You can use "touching" to describe something emotionally moving, as in "The film was a touching story of love and loss". It can also refer to physical contact, like "He was accused of unwanted "touching"".

What can I say instead of "touching" when describing emotions?

Alternatives include "moving", "heartwarming", or "poignant", depending on the specific emotion you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "touching" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, in formal contexts, consider using more neutral alternatives like "relevant", "related", or "affecting" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "touching" and "affecting"?

"Touching" often implies a direct emotional impact and can also denote physical contact. "Affecting" primarily refers to having an influence or effect on something, without necessarily implying emotional connection.