walking past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "walking past" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of moving by something or someone without stopping. Example: "I saw her walking past the café while I was waiting for my friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was interrupted by a man walking past.

The Guardian

If they can, then the people walking past can too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some of my pad (cell) mates were walking past.

The Guardian

"They see me walking past and they say 'I'm so sorry Floella.

Independent

Anyone walking past would peg us for the patients in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".

The New York Times

"I was walking past, so I decided to go over and introduce myself.

The New York Times - Sports

A man walking past said: "There's plenty of rapists here".

BBC

By following or just walking past other skilled workers, the apprentice can develop vocational competencies.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

"It has generated a lot of interest from people walking past," he said.

BBC

Weren't they worried about an officer walking past?

Vice

He is walking past rows of corpses in Bergen-Belsen, the recently liberated Nazi extermination camp.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "walking past" to describe a casual, non-deliberate act of passing something or someone. For example, "I was walking past the bakery and couldn't resist buying a cake."

Common error

In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "proceeding past" or "passing by" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "walking past" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle phrase functioning adjectivally, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe an action in progress. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "walking past" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the act of moving by something or someone without stopping. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and general usability. It finds frequent use in news media, reflecting its suitability for everyday descriptions. While versatile, it's important to consider more formal alternatives like "passing by" or "proceeding past" in professional contexts. Overall, "walking past" is a useful phrase for conveying casual movement and spatial relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passing by

Indicates a similar action of moving alongside something, but can also imply a more fleeting or incidental interaction.

strolling past

Suggests a more leisurely and relaxed pace of movement.

going by

A more general term for moving in proximity to something.

moving alongside

Emphasizes the parallel movement relative to something.

proceeding past

A more formal way of saying "walking past", often used in official or technical contexts.

stepping past

Highlights the action of taking steps to move beyond something.

sauntering by

Suggests a casual and unhurried manner of passing.

gliding past

Implies a smooth and effortless movement.

marching past

Suggests a purposeful and possibly forceful movement.

drifting past

Indicates a slow, almost aimless movement.

FAQs

How to use "walking past" in a sentence?

You can use "walking past" to describe the act of moving by something or someone without stopping, such as, "I saw her "walking past" the library yesterday."

What can I say instead of "walking past"?

Alternatives to "walking past" include "passing by", "strolling past", or "going by", depending on the specific context.

Is "walking past" formal or informal?

"Walking past" is generally considered neutral to informal. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "proceeding past".

What's the difference between "walking past" and "passing by"?

While similar, "walking past" specifically implies movement on foot. "Passing by" can refer to any mode of transportation, including walking, driving, or cycling.