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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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what's outstanding

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I don't know yet what's outstanding," he said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Start sending project progress reports of work you've completed and what's outstanding on the projects to your supervisor and your co-worker.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The app owes much of its design and organizing principles to its iOS equivalent, and that's very good, but what's immediately outstanding about the app is the speed.

News & Media

TechCrunch

A campaign spokesman for Mr. Hynes, Matt McGrath, said: "What the campaign is doing is trying to get a sense of what's still outstanding, and just look at the math.

News & Media

The New York Times

What's truly outstanding, however, is that this still feels familiar, in that way that defies explanation when you pick up an old favorite game for the first time.

News & Media

TechCrunch

In what's been an outstanding year for British filmmaking, it's just a shame not everyone can be nominated.

News & Media

BBC

As Agüero came off on 64 minutes he walked close to Sarri, who half‑turned in a pained but gracious acknowledgement of what the league's outstanding central attacker had just done to his team.

Geoffrey Goodman writes: My friend Denis Forman had a towering influence – notably, of course, in his magnificent work with the Bernsteins in guiding Granada TV into what became Britain's outstanding channel for television journalism.

News & Media

The Guardian

But the European Commission is trying to calculate what the UK's outstanding financial obligation should be when it leaves.

News & Media

BBC

What's wrong with recognizing the true outstanding player on the team and letting some kids know they should consider taking up the violin?

News & Media

The New York Times

He was an outstanding individual and this is what's devastating".

News & Media

BBC
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the contraction in neutral or semi-formal settings, such as emails or news reports, but consider expanding to "what is outstanding" in strictly formal academic or legal documents for a more authoritative tone.

Common error

Writers often use "what's outstanding" in lists where they mix tasks with achievements. Ensure that within a single paragraph or list, the term consistently refers to either 'remaining work' or 'superior work' to prevent reader confusion. For example, do not say 'Here is "what's outstanding"' followed by a list of both uncompleted chores and great successes.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what's outstanding" acts as a noun clause or relative clause formed by the contraction of the pronoun "what" and the verb "is", followed by the adjective "outstanding". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it typically serves as the object of a verb (e.g., "I don't know yet... ") or as a subject to introduce a specific focus point.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what's outstanding" is a versatile linguistic tool that bridges functional and evaluative communication. As shown in Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used in two distinct ways: to identify unresolved tasks or debts (common in business and legal reporting) and to spotlight exceptional quality or performance (common in arts and sports journalism). While its frequency is classified as rare based on exact matches, its components are ubiquitous. Writers should be mindful of the tone; while the contraction is perfectly acceptable in news and professional emails, using the full form "what is" can provide additional weight in formal documentation. Ultimately, clarity of context is the most important factor when employing this phrase to ensure your audience knows whether you are discussing a 'to-do' list or a 'best-of' list.

FAQs

How to use "what's outstanding" in a business email?

In professional emails, it is often used to request a status update on unfinished work, for example: "Could you let me know <a href="/s/what+remains" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what remains on the project?" or "I need a list of <a href="/s/pending+items" target="_blank" rel="alternative">pending items to complete the audit."

What is the difference between "what's outstanding" and "what is remaining"?

While both refer to things left over, "what's outstanding" often carries a connotation of being 'due' or 'overdue', especially in financial contexts. <a href="/s/what+is+remaining" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what is remaining is a more neutral descriptor of whatever is left.

Can "what's outstanding" mean something is very good?

Yes, in many contexts found in Ludwig, it refers to excellence. You might use <a href="/s/what's+exceptional" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what's exceptional or <a href="/s/what's+remarkable" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what's remarkable as synonyms when praising a performance or quality.

Which is more formal, "what's outstanding" or "what is outstanding"?

The expanded form <a href="/s/what+is+outstanding" target="_blank" rel="alternative">what is outstanding is preferred in formal academic and legal writing, while the contraction is standard in journalism and everyday professional communication.

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Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: