wandering point

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wandering point" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing a point of discussion or focus that is not fixed or is changing, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "During our conversation, we kept returning to the wandering point about the future of technology."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In stump speeches back then, he could wander from point to point with little coherent theme or narrative, bouncing, say, from a digression on legislative procedure to one on constitutional analysis, and taking plenty of time to do it.

The New York Times

Allow your discussion to wander from point to point.

WikiHow

Some scenes show the confined park animals in a panicked state, and Mr. Côté's striking compositions, held long enough for the mind to wander productively, point to the absurdity and cruelty of a life in captivity.

The New York Times

Jeremy Fisher, an entrepreneur in New York who is working on a travel start-up called Wander, pointed to Twitter as an example of a site that has established its own lingo with spectacular results.

The New York Times - Tech

Large points indicate large errors in tracking, usually as a result of the tracked point wandering separately in the two camera views.

Plosone

She insisted, "Well, she nearly died," as if Les had been wandering from the point.

The New Yorker

They're a natural match – personality over prowess in the vocals, charging beats and five minutes of wandering around the point before getting to it.

The Guardian - Music

I have no idea what Bloc Party got up to during that time, but at some point, wandering the streets between the hotel, and the park, and the club in search of Nietzsche, I found this pin, rusted and squashed into the dirt on the edge of the sidewalk.

Vice

A toothless woman wandered up, pointed at some tough-looking characters with automatic weapons who were sitting in a jeep, and shouted at me, "Do they look like killers to you? Could they kill women and children, as they are accused of doing?" I answered, "Yes, they do," but she ignored me and walked off to shout at someone else.

The New Yorker

Moreover, the combined effects of atmospheric scintillation and beam wander induced pointing errors are considered in order to determine the optimum beam size that minimizes the bit error rate (BER) of the system for a fixed transmitter power and link length.

Optics Communications

For a point x ∈ M, we say that x is a non-wandering point if for any neighborhood U of x, there is n ∈ Z such that f n ( U ) ∩ U ≠ ∅.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "wandering point", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a point of discussion or focus that is not fixed or is changing; otherwise, consider using more common alternatives like "shifting focus".

Common error

Avoid using "wandering point" when you actually mean a lack of direction or purpose. Instead, clarify whether the point is actually changing or simply absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wandering point" functions as a noun phrase where "wandering" acts as an adjective describing the nature of the "point". It signifies a lack of fixed direction or focus, which can be observed from Ludwig AI's suggestion that it may cause confusion and the suggestion of alternatives like shifting focus.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wandering point" describes a shifting or unfocused topic, argument, or focal point in discussions or writings. While grammatically correct, its uncommon usage and potential for confusion suggest using alternatives such as "shifting focus" or "digressive argument" for enhanced clarity. Ludwig AI indicates that "wandering point" may not be a standard expression, emphasizing the importance of contextual clarity. The phrase appears neutrally across news, wiki, and science, but less common in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Wandering subject

This highlights the subject moving away from the main topic.

Drifting focus

Emphasizes the lack of a steady focal point.

Deviating subject

Highlights a departure from the intended or original topic.

Digressive argument

Focuses on the argument itself being digressive, rather than the point.

Unstable topic

Focuses on the topic itself being prone to change or inconsistency.

Tangential issue

Highlights the issue's connection to the main topic being indirect or loosely related.

Meandering narrative

Describes a story or account that progresses in a roundabout or indirect way.

Shifting viewpoint

Implies a change in perspective or opinion.

Fluid concept

Emphasizes the changing and adaptable nature of an idea.

Evolving consideration

Highlights the constant development or change in thinking about something.

FAQs

How can "wandering point" be used in a sentence?

You can use "wandering point" to describe a discussion or argument that shifts its focus, such as, "During the debate, the speaker's argument returned to a "wandering point" about economic policy."

What is a good alternative to "wandering point"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "shifting focus", "moving target", or "digressive argument" to replace "wandering point".

Is "wandering point" grammatically correct?

Yes, "wandering point" is grammatically correct, but it may not be universally understood. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase may cause confusion as it is not a standard expression.

What does "wandering point" mean in the context of a discussion?

In a discussion, a "wandering point" refers to a topic or argument that is not fixed, shifts frequently, or digresses from the central theme. It indicates a lack of focus or a deviation from the intended subject.