while waiting for

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "while waiting for" when talking about the period of time before something else happens. For example: While waiting for the train, I read a book.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Officers started CPR on her while waiting for paramedics.

Los Angeles Times

She died while waiting for Senate confirmation.

The Washington Post

While waiting for surgery, patients often exhibit fear and anxiety.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

Shake things up while waiting for the dust to settle?

Harvard University

Patients can also get pregnant while waiting for an appointment.

Stanford University

— while waiting for someone in England to come calling.

The New York Times

Yawns while waiting for Lauryn Hill to perform.

The New York Times

While waiting for the verdict, he dreamed wildly.

The New Yorker

Some have gone bust while waiting for government payment.

The Economist

He's smoking while waiting for a ride from their host.

The Guardian

I have made coffee while waiting for sites to download.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "while waiting for" to clearly indicate that an action is performed during a period of anticipation. For instance, "Read a book while waiting for your appointment" clearly connects the reading action to the waiting period.

Common error

Avoid using future tenses incorrectly with "while waiting for". Instead of "While waiting for the bus, I will listen to music", use "While waiting for the bus, I listen to music" or "While I am waiting for the bus, I will listen to music", depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while waiting for" functions as a temporal conjunction, introducing a clause that specifies the time during which another action occurs. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase sets the context for activities performed during periods of anticipation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while waiting for" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate actions or states that occur during a period of anticipation. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. The phrase functions as a temporal conjunction, serving to connect an activity with the time spent anticipating a future event. Although it is broadly applicable, writers should avoid incorrect tense usage and ensure clarity in their sentence construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as one waits for

Replaces "while" with "as one", emphasizing the action of waiting.

during the wait for

Focuses on the duration of the waiting period.

in anticipation of

Highlights the feeling of looking forward to something.

awaiting the arrival of

Specifically refers to the arrival of someone or something.

pending the occurrence of

A more formal way of expressing the waiting period until an event.

in expectation of

Similar to anticipation, but slightly more formal.

before [something] happens

Focuses on the sequence of events, with waiting as the initial phase.

leading up to

Describes the time frame that precedes an event.

as [time] passes until

Emphasizes the passage of time during the waiting period.

in the interim before

Uses "interim" to refer to the period between two events.

FAQs

How can I use "while waiting for" in a sentence?

You can use "while waiting for" to describe actions that occur during a period of anticipation, such as "I read a book "while waiting for" the train" or "She practiced her speech "while waiting for" her turn".

What are some alternatives to "while waiting for"?

Alternatives include "as one waits for", "during the wait for", or "in anticipation of". For example, instead of ""while waiting for" the interview", you could say "during the wait for the interview".

Is it correct to say "while waiting for, I am going to"?

While grammatically understandable, it's often better to phrase it as "While waiting for [event], I [present tense verb]" or "While waiting for [event], I will [future tense verb]" for clarity and proper tense agreement.

What's the difference between ""while waiting for"" and "as waiting for"?

"While waiting for" is the correct and more common phrase to indicate an action happening during a period of anticipation. "As waiting for" is not a standard or grammatically correct construction.