walking me through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "walking me through" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when someone is guiding or explaining a process step-by-step to another person. Example: "Can you please walk me through the steps to set up the new software?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"He spent hours walking me through the very dense history of lossless compression," Dotan said.

The New Yorker

(Walking me through the shows, Marcoci and Biesenbach bubbled with enthusiasm, and pretty soon so did I).

The New Yorker

"It would ask me if I wanted an additional cardholder on the account," he said, walking me through his scam.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's Thursday evening, and, over a big cup of tea, Andy, 24, is walking me through his beauty routine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Jason Crutchfield drove me through the abandoned downtown, under the "Flint — Vehicle City" arch on Saginaw Street, he said, "I remember my grandmother walking me through here.

The New Yorker

"Hillary's approach is closer to circle or matrix management than to hierarchical management," Ann Lewis, who has been walking me through the cluttered O.E.O.B. suite, says.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

3. Walk me through something like that.

The New Yorker

Mayer walked me through a likely result.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Bronner walked me through those cases.

The New York Times

Hatch walked me through an example.

Independent

Q. Please walk me through them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "walking me through" when you want to emphasize a step-by-step explanation or demonstration of a process. It conveys a sense of personal guidance.

Common error

Avoid omitting the personal pronoun when the action is directed at someone specific. Saying "walking through the process" is different from "walking me through the process", as the latter indicates personal guidance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "walking me through" functions as a present participle phrase acting as a verb complement, indicating a process of explanation or demonstration that someone is performing for the speaker. Ludwig indicates this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "walking me through" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a guided, step-by-step explanation or demonstration. As Ludwig's analysis shows, this phrase is most frequently used in news and media, as well as in academic settings, with a neutral tone suitable for various contexts. While alternative phrases like "guiding me through" or "giving me a walkthrough" offer similar meanings, "walking me through" often implies a more detailed and personal level of instruction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

giving me a walkthrough

Implies a comprehensive overview or demonstration of a system or process.

guiding me through

Focuses more on overall direction or leadership, suggesting a broader scope than a detailed explanation.

leading me through

Similar to "guiding", but implies taking the initiative to show the way or process.

taking me step-by-step

Emphasizes the structured and progressive nature of the explanation.

explaining to me step by step

Highlights the methodical and detailed nature of the explanation.

clarifying for me

Focuses on removing confusion or ambiguity.

showing me the ropes

Informal, implies teaching someone the basics of a job or task.

instructing me on

Implies a more formal teaching or training context.

demonstrating for me

Suggests a practical, hands-on approach to showing how something is done.

elucidating for me

More formal, suggests making something clear and understandable.

FAQs

How can I use "walking me through" in a sentence?

You can use "walking me through" to describe someone explaining or demonstrating a process to you step by step. For example, "The technician was "walking me through" the software installation process".

What's a more formal alternative to "walking me through"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "guiding me through" or "elucidating for me", which imply a clearer and more detailed explanation.

Is it correct to say "walk through the steps" instead of "walking me through the steps"?

While "walk through the steps" is grammatically correct, it lacks the personal element. "Walking me through the steps" indicates a direct, guided explanation tailored to the listener.

What's the difference between "walking me through" and "giving me a walkthrough"?

"Walking me through" implies a more detailed, step-by-step explanation, while "giving me a walkthrough" suggests a general overview or demonstration.