walking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "walking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of moving on foot or to indicate a state of being in motion. Example: "I enjoy walking in the park every morning to start my day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The blind man is walking in front of a car and you do not have a duty to stop him absent some relation between you.

The New York Times

We would be walking for around five hours in total that day.

The Guardian - Travel

You should be used to walking hilly terrain.

The Guardian - Travel

Certain I was walking away from footwear nirvana, I turned around and made to leave.

The Guardian - Travel

He said he spent the next few minutes walking in a circle in his living room and dining room in disbelief, his dogs trailing him, before he finally called his 27-year-old son to give him the news.

The Guardian

We provide a service – dog walking – and are already at the max of what clients will pay.

The Guardian - Business

Louise wins a four-night walking holiday for two in Northumberland with Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk).

The Guardian - Travel

Pietersen also shook hands with all the Leicestershire fielders before walking off with bat raised high, having scored 355 not out from 396 balls, including 36 fours and 15 sixes.

The Guardian - Sport

Walking down Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street late on Friday evening, the casual observer would find little amiss; not much to suggest that Moscow's trajectory over recent years, of broader consumer options and improving quality of life for the new urban middle class, was not continuing as before.

The Guardian

Kym Halladay, 35, is walking across with her two young children, Harrison, four, and Georgia, two, in a pushchair, on the half-mile walk home from the local primary school.

The Guardian

"We needed to secure a safe supply of water rapidly, or people would have had to continue walking westwards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a continuous action, use "walking" with auxiliary verbs like "is", "was", or "will be" to form continuous tenses. For example: "She is walking to the store."

Common error

Avoid using "walking" interchangeably with the base form "walk" when a continuous tense is required. Incorrect: "She walk to the store now." Correct: "She is walking to the store now."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "walking" is as a present participle, often used to form continuous verb tenses (e.g., "I am walking"). It can also function as a gerund, a verbal noun (e.g., "Walking is good exercise"). Ludwig confirms its varied usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "walking" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund, denoting the act of moving on foot. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatile usage. The phrase is very common, especially within News & Media. While generally neutral in tone, context dictates its communicative purpose, ranging from describing actions to conveying descriptive details. To enhance clarity and avoid common errors, ensure correct tense usage and consider alternatives like "strolling" or "hiking" for varied emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Going for a walk

This alternative emphasizes the act of intentionally taking a walk for leisure or exercise.

Taking a stroll

Implies a leisurely and relaxed manner of walking, often for pleasure.

Ambling along

Suggests a slow and unhurried way of walking, often in a carefree manner.

Hiking

Refers to a long walk in the countryside, usually for exercise or recreation.

Foot travel

A more formal term referring to traveling by foot, often over a long distance.

Pacing

Describes walking back and forth, often due to nervousness or agitation.

Wandering

Implies walking without a specific destination or purpose, often exploring.

Marching

Suggests walking in a formal and organized manner, often in a group.

Perambulating

A formal and somewhat archaic term for walking, especially around a boundary.

Traipsing

Implies walking wearily or reluctantly, often over a long distance.

FAQs

How do I use "walking" in a sentence?

"Walking" can be used as a verb in continuous tenses, as in "I am walking", or as a noun (gerund), as in "Walking is good exercise". It can also function as an adjective, as in "walking stick".

What are some alternatives to "walking"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "strolling", "hiking", "ambling", or "trekking".

Is "walking" a verb or a noun?

"Walking" can function as both a verb (present participle) and a noun (gerund). As a verb, it's part of a continuous tense (e.g., "I am walking"). As a noun, it refers to the act of walking itself (e.g., "Walking is my favorite activity").

How do I describe the benefits of "walking"?

You can describe the benefits by saying things like "Walking promotes health", "walking improves fitness", or "walking reduces stress".