while reading that

USAGE SUMMARY

"while reading that" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to something that was just mentioned or referred to in the prior sentence. For example: "I heard an interesting story yesterday. While reading that, I was reminded of something that happened to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Try dozing off while reading that!

The New Yorker

While reading that story, she changed.

The Guardian

If you feel perplexed while reading, that's OK.

Huffington Post

I'm taking a wild guess here, but you probably thought of one specific thing on your to-do list while reading that last paragraph, right?

The New York Times

And I cringed while reading that when Stephen proposed, Jane writes, she "consigned all my thoughts of a career in the diplomatic service to oblivion".

The Guardian - Film

And there's nothing better than watching a child so captivated while reading that you could honk a horn in the classroom and the child wouldn't notice it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Reads aligned to the known spliced junctions are considered as linear splicing and thus are filtered out, while reads that only span the 3′ end of the downstream exon and 5′ end of the upstream exon are considered potential signals of circRNA, in which the junction is AG/GU but not the canonical GU/AG (Memczak et al., 2013).

Protein & Cell

Genome assigned reads that had at least 50% of the alignment length located within the predicted open reading frame (ORF) of a gene were classified as gene assigned reads, while reads that do not match this criterion were classified as intergenic reads.

BMC Genomics

Only spacer combinations that were present in 60%% of the reads were utilized to reconstruct CRISPR loci, while reads that had similar CRISPR spacers within a subject with their order altered were discarded, as they may represent lesser abundant CRISPR loci or could occur from PCR amplification artifacts.

BMC Genomics

Then, only information for indel differences was kept, while reads that contained only mismatches were discarded.

BMC Genomics

I'll pause while you read that again.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the "that" clearly refers to a specific text or piece of information mentioned in the preceding sentence to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "while reading that" if the connection to the preceding text is unclear or ambiguous. Ensure the reader can easily identify the exact text you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while reading that" functions as a temporal conjunction phrase. It connects a reading activity to a subsequent thought or action, indicating that the second event occurred during the reading process. This is confirmed by Ludwig examples, which showcase the phrase linking a text with an associated reaction or realization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

24%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while reading that" serves as a useful phrase to connect the act of reading with a subsequent thought or action. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and typically used to refer back to something mentioned in a prior sentence. While common, it is not overwhelmingly frequent, appearing most often in News & Media sources. For more formal writing, alternatives like "upon reading that" might be more appropriate. Ensure that the reference to "that" is clear to maintain coherence in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whilst reading that

"Whilst" is a more formal synonym for "while".

as i was reading that

Adds the progressive aspect ("was reading") to emphasize the ongoing nature of the reading activity in the past.

upon reading that

Uses "upon reading" to indicate the point in time when the action occurs, creating a slightly more formal tone.

as i peruse that

Replaces "while reading" with "as I peruse", suggesting a more active and engaged reading process. It also changes the verb.

as i read it

Shortens the phrase, replacing "that" with "it" assuming the reference is clear.

during that reading

Shifts the focus to the act of reading itself, emphasizing the duration of the reading activity.

in the process of reading that

Emphasizes that the action occurs as part of an ongoing reading process.

reading that, i

Inverts the structure, placing the reading activity at the beginning for emphasis.

during my reading of that

Emphasizes a personal and reflective reading experience.

as i absorbed that

Emphasizes a deep sense of reading.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "while reading that" in a sentence?

Use "while reading that" to connect a previously mentioned piece of information with a subsequent thought or action derived from that information. For example, "I came across a fascinating statistic. "While reading that", I started to wonder about its implications."

What are some alternatives to "while reading that"?

You can use alternatives like "upon reading that", "as I read that", or "during that reading" depending on the context. Each carries a slightly different nuance, but the core meaning remains similar. For example, "upon reading that" suggests a more immediate reaction.

Is "while reading that" appropriate for formal writing?

"While reading that" is generally acceptable in most contexts, but for more formal writing, consider alternatives like "upon reading that" or "in the process of reading that" for a more polished tone. For example, instead of using "while reading that", it may be better to say "in the process of reading that, I realized..."

What's the difference between "while reading that" and "when reading that"?

"While reading that" emphasizes the concurrent nature of the reading and the subsequent thought or action, whereas "when reading that" simply indicates that the thought or action occurred at some point during the reading. The former suggests a more direct connection. For example, if you say "while reading that", you're implying that the reading directly influenced your subsequent thought.