phrasing

[ frey-zing ]

noun

1. the act of forming phrases.
2. a manner or method of forming phrases; phraseology.
3. Music. the grouping of the notes of a musical line into distinct phrases.

phrasing

/ ˈfreɪzɪŋ /

noun

1. the way in which something is expressed, esp in writing; wording
2. music the division of a melodic line, part, etc, into musical phrases

Word History and Origins

Origin of phrasing¹

First recorded in 1605–15; phrase + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In Wisconsin, for example, the Milwaukee County Election Commission explains on its website that this phrasing means all in-person ballots have been reported.

From Popular-Science

Limiting this type of phrasing may also help you improve your chances of receiving a featured snippet.

From Search Engine Land

Ghabboun speaks English fluently, but it’s his second language, and the phrasing of a new question about working from home temporarily tripped him up.

From ProPublica

No coincidence with that phrasing—The Feeling of Life Itself is his latest book.

From Nautilus

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, which employs approximately 4,000 people — sworn personnel and support staff — used slightly different phrasing.

From Voice of San Diego

And look at how mild her phrasing was: The South “has not always been the friendliest place” for black people.

From The Daily Beast

Gaga is especially convincing at slower tempos, and this is where weaknesses in phrasing are typically most exposed.

From The Daily Beast

This is a more diplomatic way of phrasing my first post-election suggestion: "Insult fewer people next time."

From The Daily Beast

“That phrasing was very clumsy and poorly expresses my thoughts,” she explained.

From The Daily Beast

Many readers thought our phrasing of "fairness" was a bit vague and made the question hard to answer.

From The Daily Beast

He was still phrasing a conventional greeting as she flung him a gay laugh and a look from brown eyes that smiled encouragement.

From Project Gutenberg

One interested in his duplication of characteristic phrasing may refer for comparison ll.

From Project Gutenberg

This is good writing too, but it lacks the fancy and the choice of phrasing which would develop later.

From Project Gutenberg

Marjorie had stopped reading to laugh more than once at Jerrys droll phrasing.

From Project Gutenberg

The man's phrasing was rough, but both his admiration and his pity were sincere, and John felt no resentment toward him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• diction
• phrase
• terminology