wade through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wade through" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of moving through something with difficulty, often referring to a large amount of information or a challenging situation. Example: "I had to wade through hundreds of emails to find the one I was looking for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How to wade through them all?

The New Yorker

It's a lot to wade through.

The Guardian

No need to actually wade through it.

The Guardian - Travel

But today, there is plenty of wreckage to wade through.

The New York Times - Sports

No need to wade through an overwhelming number of options.

The New York Times

"It's a very confusing environment for consumers to wade through.

The New York Times

Wade through seas of blood if necessary, like Macbeth.

The Economist

You don't have time to wade through screens.

Independent

I don't want to wade through Murdoch's sewer".

Independent

But in the end, Duncan manages to wade through.

The New York Times - Sports

Especially as they wade through pools of blood.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wade through", ensure the context clearly establishes the difficulty or abundance that necessitates significant effort. For instance, "wade through a sea of paperwork" effectively conveys the challenging nature of the task.

Common error

Avoid using "wade through" for tasks that are only mildly challenging. It's best reserved for situations involving considerable effort or large amounts of material. Using it inappropriately can make your writing sound exaggerated or melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

Wade through functions as a verb phrase, typically describing the action of moving or progressing through something with considerable effort or difficulty. This action can be literal, such as wading through water, or metaphorical, as in wading through information. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wade through" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that describes the act of navigating something difficult or abundant. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase effectively conveys the effort required to make progress in challenging situations. While versatile, it is important to reserve its usage for scenarios that genuinely involve considerable effort to avoid sounding exaggerated. Related phrases such as ""plow through"" and ""struggle through"" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plow through

This alternative suggests a more forceful and determined effort to move through something.

struggle through

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in progressing through a challenging situation.

sift through

Focuses on carefully examining and selecting specific items from a large collection.

navigate through

Implies a strategic approach to move through a complex or confusing environment.

comb through

Suggests a thorough and detailed search through something, often for specific information.

work through

Highlights the process of dealing with and resolving a problem or issue.

grapple with

Focuses on the struggle and effort involved in understanding or dealing with a difficult concept or situation.

contend with

Implies facing and dealing with challenges or difficulties.

deal with

Offers a more general way to express handling or managing a situation or task.

make your way through

Focuses on physically or metaphorically advancing amidst difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "wade through" in a sentence?

You can use "wade through" to describe the act of dealing with something that is difficult or tedious. For example, "I had to wade through a mountain of paperwork to complete the project."

What are some alternatives to "wade through"?

Alternatives to "wade through" include "plow through", "struggle through", and "sift through", each carrying slightly different connotations of effort and process.

Is it better to say "wade through" or "go through"?

"Wade through" implies a more arduous or overwhelming task than "go through". Use "wade through" when you want to emphasize the difficulty and the amount of effort required.

When is it appropriate to use "wade through" metaphorically?

It's appropriate to use "wade through" metaphorically when describing dealing with large amounts of information, complex problems, or emotionally challenging situations. For instance, "She had to wade through her grief after the loss."