tracking

USAGE SUMMARY

"tracking" is a correct and commonly used word in written English.
You can use it as a verb when referring to the act of following something, either literally or figuratively. For example, "The police are tracking down the suspect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

From the high rises of midtown Manhattan I turned my attention to Scotland Yard and FBI headquarters, where dogged teams of investigators had been assigned the thankless task of tracking this digital samizdat back to its source, a process that often took years.

The Guardian - Books

"It's really a way of turning [Orwell's] Big Brother inside out: you're tracking the environment, rather than the environment tracking you".

The Guardian - Tech

"Everybody says how complicated a book it is, but also it is very simple; a man tracking down one of four people.

The Guardian

The report, issued by the office of community-oriented policing services (Cops), presents an unusually detailed review of the use of fatal force by police officers, tracking fine-grain details of each shooting incident, such as number of shots fired, number of suspects involved, number of police involved, races and ages of police officers and suspects, whether the suspect had a gun and much more.

The Guardian

"They were thinking about tracking you down so they could re-destroy you?" I asked.

The Guardian - Tech

The protesters on the security perimeter won't have access to the TPP text, or to the millions of dollars that companies are spending to lobby for Fast Tracking the global deal, but at least they'll have an intact sense of irony, which is more than I can say for our nation's president.

The Guardian

Still, tracking his various incarnations had proved easier than expected.

The Guardian

She changed her name and lived in Scotland for a while, and sometimes I fantasise about tracking her down and confronting her.

The Guardian

It scales up to include smart cities – think of connected traffic signals that monitor utility use, or smart bins that signal when they need to be emptied – and industry, with connected sensors for everything from tracking parts to monitoring crops.

The Guardian - Tech

What nature-loving kid wouldn't fancy tracking leopards, setting camera traps - even helping to fit collars?

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He has handed over significant powers designed to protect the environment to a state government committed to fast-tracking the rapid expansion of coal and gas projects.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "tracking" progress, use quantifiable metrics to provide clear evidence of advancement.

Common error

Avoid using "tracking" when referring to the movement of inanimate objects that are not being actively monitored; instead, consider words like "displaying" or "showing".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tracking" is that of a verb in its present participle form, often used as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "is tracking") or as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun). Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this usage is common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Tech

25%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "tracking" functions primarily as a verb, describing the action of following or monitoring something, either literally or figuratively. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Technology, and Sports contexts. Related terms include "monitoring", "tracing", and "following", each carrying slightly different nuances. When using "tracking", ensure you are referring to an active process of observation and avoid using it for static movements of inanimate objects. Considering this, "tracking" is a versatile term useful in various settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

monitoring

Focuses more on continuous observation and data collection.

tracing

Implies following a path or history, often to discover origins.

following

A more general term for going after or observing something.

pursuing

Suggests a more active and determined effort to catch or achieve something.

observing

Emphasizes watching carefully, often for a specific purpose.

investigating

Involves a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. so as to establish the truth.

keeping tabs on

An idiomatic phrase meaning to watch someone or something carefully.

keeping an eye on

Similar to "keeping tabs on", but slightly less intense.

scouting

Searching or exploring for specific items of interest or people

tailing

Following someone secretly and closely.

FAQs

How is "tracking" used in a sentence?

"Tracking" can be used to describe the act of following something's movement or progress, as in "Scientists are tracking the migration patterns of birds" or "The company is tracking key performance indicators to measure success".

What's the difference between "tracking" and "monitoring"?

"Tracking" often implies following a specific path or progress, while "monitoring" suggests continuous observation to detect changes or issues.

Which is a better fit: "tracking data" or "monitoring data"?

It depends on the context. "Tracking data" refers to information gathered by following something's movement or progress. On the other hand, "monitoring data" is data collected through continuous observation.

What can I say instead of "we are tracking"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "we are "monitoring"", "we are "following"", or "we are "observing"".