when seizing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when seizing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an action is taking place during the act of seizing something, often in legal or metaphorical situations. Example: "The authorities acted swiftly when seizing the illegal goods from the warehouse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Whatsoever the pretexts or excuses submitted by the National Socialist leaders when seizing the artistic heritage of western Europe, whether by theft, by so-called preservative confiscations, or by direct purchase from the owners or the markets for the sale of objects of art, the criminal intention is always the same.

Yale University

He put Stuart McCall's men ahead after five minutes when seizing on a poor pass from Posh man Joe Ward and firing past goalkeeper Conor O'Malley.

BBC

Since the city "provided no evidence" that its inspectors knew of an owner's prior violations when seizing their vehicle, "TLC inspectors do not have probable cause to believe a vehicle is subject to forfeiture," and so those seizures run afoul of the Fourth Amendment.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He denied the police reports that Mr. Hadzic was armed when seized.

The New York Times

Then male employees, when seized by a sexual urge, can relieve it swiftly and get back to work.

The New Yorker

He is reported to have dropped to his knees and begged for mercy when seized by investigators.

The Guardian

Radcliffe hobbled to 23rd place in Beijing when seized by leg cramps; injuries curtailed her pre-Olympic training.

The New York Times - Sports

When seized by FARC guerrillas in 2002, she had been campaigning for the presidency (albeit that polls gave her less than 1% of the vote).

The Economist

"Forfeitures and Fairness" (editorial, Feb. 28), which appropriately called for tightening federal asset-forfeiture policies, noted the "impetus for abuse" when seized assets are shared with local police.

The New York Times

On the contrary, policy space, when seized by the countries that bargain for it, brings growth to developing countries, and such growth brings rising demand for northern products.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unfortunately, the mother loses the divinatory touch with the Tarot when seized by force and confined in prison.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when seizing" to clearly indicate that an action occurs simultaneously with the act of taking possession or control of something. This can be particularly useful in legal or formal contexts to establish a clear timeline of events.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "when seizing" with phrases that imply causation rather than simultaneity. For instance, avoid using "because of seizing" when you intend to convey that something happened during the act of seizing, not as a direct result of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when seizing" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when the action described in the main clause occurs. This is consistent with examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when seizing" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate simultaneous actions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Though relatively rare, it's suitable for neutral to professional contexts, particularly in news and academic writing. Remember to use it to clearly establish a temporal relationship between seizing something and another action. Alternatives like "upon seizing" or "while seizing" can offer nuanced variations. Be mindful of potential ambiguity and ensure your choice accurately reflects the intended timing and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon seizing

Replaces "when" with "upon", emphasizing the immediacy of the action following the seizure.

while seizing

Substitutes "when" with "while", highlighting the duration of the seizure and simultaneous action.

during seizure of

Uses a noun phrase to describe the time frame of the seizure, altering the sentence structure.

at the time of seizing

Emphasizes a specific point in time concurrent with the seizing action.

as they seized

Changes the focus to the subjects performing the seizure, altering the sentence structure.

in the act of seizing

Highlights that the action occurs specifically during the process of seizing something.

on the occasion of seizing

Formal alternative, indicating a specific event or instance.

concurrent with seizing

Uses a more formal and less common term to indicate that the actions occur at the same time.

simultaneous with seizing

Emphasizes that the actions happen at the exact same moment as seizing.

during the process of seizing

Specifies that the accompanying action occurs throughout the entire process of seizure.

FAQs

How can I use "when seizing" in a sentence?

Use "when seizing" to indicate that an action takes place at the same time as someone or something is being seized. For example, "The evidence was mishandled "when seizing" it from the suspect."

What phrases are similar to "when seizing"?

Similar phrases include "upon seizing", "while seizing", or "during the seizure of". The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey about the timing and context of the action.

Is there a more formal alternative to "when seizing"?

Yes, a more formal alternative would be "at the time of seizing" or "during the process of seizing". These options add a layer of formality suitable for legal or academic writing.

What is the difference between "when seizing" and "after seizing"?

"When seizing" indicates simultaneous actions, while "after seizing" implies that the action occurred subsequent to the act of seizing. The correct phrase depends on the chronological relationship you want to establish.