unfortunately passing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfortunately passing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express regret or sadness about someone or something that has died or is no longer present. Example: "We are deeply saddened by the news of her unfortunately passing, and our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In this same story, for example, assorted paper-thin persons think of sex and death while, most unfortunately, passing through a symbolic railway tunnel.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I think the time has unfortunately passed.

The New York Times

"They all unfortunately passed away, but doing what they loved," the statement said.

The New York Times

Due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, Mr. Guan-Fu Zhu unfortunately passed away on November 11th, 2015, at the age of 89.

Protein & Cell

Hunter unfortunately passed away in 1969; but he likely would've rejected the game opportunity anyway, as he refused to have anything more to do with the show.

Forbes

We also deeply acknowledge the great efforts of Prof. Emeritus Takayuki Ono, the original PI of the ERG project, who unfortunately passed away in December 2013 before his official retirement.

Earth, Planets and Space

"The lieutenant governor only actually has any real power when the governor unfortunately passes or has anesthetic.

Huffington Post

For Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, Thursday was the last dance as she unfortunately passed from this earth far too young, at just 63, apparently of lung cancer.

Huffington Post

I think it's probably about six years ago – maybe five years ago – your CMO at that moment, a lady by the name of Cathy Coughlin who unfortunately passed away.

Huffington Post

My first hero was my mother, who unfortunately passed away at a relatively young age, before the Iron Curtain collapsed and Bosnia & Herzegovina regained its independence.

Huffington Post

"Unfortunately, it is our Black trans community and other trans communities of color that will be disproportionately affected by the negative repercussions of it should these bills unfortunately pass".    .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfortunately passing", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being transitioned from or what the misfortune pertains to. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the message's emotional impact.

Common error

Avoid using "unfortunately passing" repeatedly in formal or professional writing. Overuse can make your writing sound melodramatic. Opt for synonyms like "sadly departing" or rephrase to convey the same meaning with greater subtlety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfortunately passing" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a verb expressing an action or state. The adverb "unfortunately" modifies the verb "passing", indicating that the action is regrettable or unwelcome. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically acceptable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unfortunately passing" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey regret or a negative sentiment regarding a transition or event. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's relatively rare, used mostly in News and Media, Scientific and Formal & Business contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity about what is "passing" and consider alternatives like "sadly transitioning" in more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sadly transitioning

Replaces "unfortunately" with "sadly" to emphasize sorrow; "transitioning" implies a change or passing.

regrettably departing

Uses "regrettably" to highlight the feeling of regret and "departing" for a formal tone when referring to passing.

tragically unfolding

Highlights the tragic nature of something as it unfolds or progresses.

grievously moving

"Grievously" indicates deep sorrow over a movement or change.

unluckily progressing

Emphasizes the lack of fortune in the movement or change happening.

woefully continuing

"Woefully" denotes sadness, and "continuing" signifies an ongoing, undesirable situation.

lamentably advancing

"Lamentably" shows regret, while "advancing" suggests an undesirable progression.

deplorably evolving

"Deplorably" conveys disapproval and sorrow regarding an evolving situation.

alas, proceeding

"Alas" expresses grief, while "proceeding" denotes continuation, implying a negative circumstance.

pitifully transpiring

"Pitifully" indicates compassion and sorrow for what is transpiring or happening.

FAQs

What does "unfortunately passing" mean?

The phrase "unfortunately passing" describes a situation where someone or something is transitioning or moving on, coupled with a sense of regret or bad luck.

Is "unfortunately passing" a formal way to describe death?

While "unfortunately passing" can refer to death, it's often used in less direct contexts. A more common phrase to soften the news of death would be "passed away".

What are some alternatives to "unfortunately passing"?

Alternatives include "sadly transitioning", "regrettably departing", or simply rephrasing the sentence to express the misfortune more directly.

How can I use "unfortunately passing" in a sentence?

You can use "unfortunately passing" to describe a transition or change you regret, like: "Unfortunately, the opportunity is passing", or "Unfortunately, the time for diplomacy is passing."