What Does "in passing" Mean?
- What it expresses: The expression "in passing" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of manner or extent. It indicates that an action is performed briefly, incidentally, or as a secondary thought while the subject is occupied with something else.
- What part of the sentence it typically modifies: It most frequently modifies a verb (especially verbs of communication like 'mention', 'remark', or 'note') or an entire clause to provide context for how an observation was made.
- Register: The phrase is neutral to formal. It is equally at home in sophisticated journalism, academic citations, and polite conversation.
How to Use It
- Typical sentence positions: "In passing" is highly flexible. While it most naturally appears in the final position to qualify a statement, it is frequently used in the initial position (followed by a comma) to set the stage for a digression. It rarely appears in the mid-position unless it is parenthetical.
- What it modifies and how it changes the meaning: When modifying a verb, it downplays the importance of the action. For instance, "He mentioned the debt in passing" suggests the debt was not the main topic of conversation.
- Grammatical flexibility: It can be fronted for emphasis or used with negation (e.g., "This was not said in passing"). It can also be qualified by adverbs like "only" or "merely" to further diminish the significance of the action.
- What sounds unnatural: Using "in passing" to describe a long, detailed analysis is oxymoronic. It should not be used when the action described is the primary focus of the sentence.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from in passing on Ludwig.guru.
"They mention Givental's work only in passing." — newyorker.com
"This wasn't a statement made in passing." — washingtonpost.com
"(In passing, she concedes Reagan and Sarkozy)." — newyorker.com
"Important contacts are made here in passing." — economist.com
"A couple of other points in passing." — theguardian.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/in+passing
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| incidentally |
A neutral adverb used to introduce a new topic that is not the main point. |
| briefly |
Focuses on the short duration of the mention or action. |
| en passant |
A French loanword used in formal or literary contexts to mean 'in passing'. |
| by the way |
More informal; used primarily in speech to introduce a tangential remark. |
| tangentially |
Formal; suggests the mention is only slightly related to the main subject. |
| in a cursory manner |
Formal; implies a lack of depth or detail in the action. |
Common Mistakes
- Physical vs. Metaphorical: Learners often use it to mean 'physically moving past someone' (e.g., "I saw him in passing on the street"). While technically possible, it is much more common in its metaphorical sense of mentioning something briefly.
- Confusion with 'in past': Learners sometimes confuse it with 'in the past', which refers to a previous time rather than the manner of an action.
- Redundancy: Pairing it with other words like "briefly in passing" is often redundant, as the phrase already implies brevity.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| in passing |
Adverbial of manner/extent |
Neutral to Formal |
Final or Initial |
FAQs
Where in a sentence should in passing appear
The expression in passing most naturally appears in the final position of a sentence to modify the preceding verb or clause. However, it is also frequently used in the initial position as a sentence adverbial to signal that the upcoming statement is a digression.
What is the difference between in passing and briefly
While both terms imply a short duration, briefly focuses strictly on the time taken to perform an action. In contrast, in passing emphasizes the incidental nature of the action, suggesting it occurred while the subject was focused on something else.
Can in passing refer to something that happened a long time ago
Learners often confuse in passing with in the past, but they have distinct meanings. You should use in passing to describe the manner in which something was mentioned, rather than using it to denote a specific timeframe or physical movement.