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Impactful: Definition and Why You Might Want to Avoid it

Three panels. 1st panel shows a guy looking outside his window at the polluted city. 2nd panel shows a man working in his laboratory. 3rd panel shows the same man receiving an award for his work on stopping pollution. Text reads: A truly impactful invention that changed the world for the better.

Main Impactful Takeaways:

  • Impactful definition: “having forceful impact” or “making a marked impression”.
  • ⚠️Watch Out!Some people don’t care for this word because they feel it’s unnecessary and cumbersome. For this reason, it might be better to use another word.
  • Depending on the context, synonyms for impactful include significant, important, compelling, gripping, consequential, and major.
  • Some antonyms are ineffective, counterproductive, and weak.
  • The word first emerged during the 1960s.
  • People can be impactful. An impactfulperson has helped change your life, your point of view, or even the course of history.

This is your comprehensive guide to the adjectiveimpactful, including what it means, how to use it, and why some people hate it.

I haven’t heard any classical music that is moreimpactfulthan the works of Mozart.
(Synonym)I haven’t heard any classical music that is morecompellingthan the works of Mozart.
The book was soimpactful,I bought a dozen copies and sent them to all my friends.
Gandhi,Michelle Obama, and Albert Einstein are all veryimpactfulpeople.
My skating coach helped me win the Olympics, making her the mostimpactfulperson in my life.
Three panels. 1st panel shows a guy looking outside his window at the polluted city. 2nd panel shows a man working in his laboratory. 3rd panel shows the same man receiving an award for his work on stopping pollution. Text reads: A truly impactful invention that changed the world for the better.
Impactful means producing a marked impression. Some modern editors and grammarians have a negative view of this word, so it’s best to use its synonyms like effective and influential.

Is Impactful a Word?

Impactful is a relatively new word that means “having a forceful impact” or “producing a marked impression.” Since appearing in the 1960s, it’s become somewhat controversial. For example, this word may annoy some readers that consider it redundant, cumbersome, and even empty verbiage. While it is a word, consider using synonyms like significant, influential, compelling, and effective. These will help express your thoughts with more clarity and richer detail.

In other words, this adjective means to leave a mark or refers to something of significance.

Why Do People Hate the Word Impactful?

The original definition was “manifesting a great effect or impact.” As you can see, that hasn’t changed much.

Notwithstanding, some contemporary editors have a negative view of this word. In fact, they regard it as unwieldy or even mangled. Essentially, their view may be that it’s ugly and doesn’t add much.

First, grammatically speaking, it doesn’t follow all the rules. Some of this discord is because the word is so new. Furthermore, traditionalists are usually weary of change.

Others argue that preexisting words such as effective and influential work just fine (and even better), making this new word a needless invention.

Regardless, it is a real word and here to stay. Whether or not you use it depends on what you are trying to say, your personal style, and your audience.

What’s Another Way of Saying Impactful?

Some may consider words like dynamic, significant, pivotal and gripping to be better than using the controversial word impactful. It’s important to note that since the word has several, slightly different definitions, whichimpactful synonym you choose depends on what you want to say. For example, for something that has “a significant impact,” you might find that major or important are better words for your purpose. Or, for something that is “significantly important or urgent,” words like affecting and consequential might convey more.

Here are some of the best impactful synonyms:

  • Effectual
  • Affecting
  • Productive
  • Consequential
  • Dynamic
  • Eventful
  • Important
  • Significant
  • Forceful
  • Potent
  • Stimulating
  • Pivotal
  • Monumental
  • Convincing
  • Inspirational
  • Provoking
  • Gripping
  • Emotional
  • Persuasive
  • Major

What is an Impactful Example?

The meaning of impactful is to have a major impact or effect. Usually, we use this adjective to describe people or things that leave a mark. For instance, they’re memorable and may even cause other people to change their minds or act. Perhaps you read a book that was impactful because it made you want to become a writer. Or, maybe your trip to Thailand was impactful because of what you saw or learned there.

Impactful Examples:

  • An article you found striking and memorable.
  • An event that helped change a community.
  • People who shape our shared narrative and inspire the average person to act.
It will take animpactfuldonation to keep our community center open for another year.
On my list of 100 most impactful performances, Zip by Rita Hayworth in the 1957 musical My Pal Joey might be at the top.
Is impactful a word? Two young men talking. The guy on the left is saying "I'll try to be more impactful this time around." Some people can't stand the word impactful. To avoid annoying your readers, use synonyms like effective or moving instead.
Impactful is a relatively new word that means “having a forceful impact” or “producing a marked impression.”

How Do You Use Impactful in a Sentence?

There are two ways to use the word impactful in a sentence: 1) to describe something that has a significant effect, or 2) to describe something that is likely to influence how others think and feel. Let’s take a look at both.

The first can be a subjective statement in which you may describe something that has a deep, outside-in impact. In this way, you use the word impactful to add perspective and to better define the subject of your sentence.

People are still shaken to this day, considering Katrina is one of the most impactful hurricanes in the last twenty years.

The second can be an objective statement in which you are describing something that is likely to touch people’s emotions or make them think.

Isn’t this impactful? Doesn’t it make you feel powerful that you have all these resources at your disposal?

Below are more examples of the word impactful being used in a sentence:

If you want to beimpactful, choose something you’re passionate about and share it with the world.
The rally was soimpactful,I went and signed up to vote the very next day.
Most notably, the events of September 11, 2001, were some of the mostimpactfulin modern times.
Steve Vai’simpactfulperformances helped me become the guitar player I am today.

📝 Impactful can mean that something or someone is:

  1. Influential or monumental
  2. Effective or efficient
  3. Significant, important, or major
  4. Compelling, persuasive, or convincing
  5. Emotional or gripping
  6. Forceful or potent (like an impact)

1. Influential or Monumental Examples

I’ve never met a moreimpactfulperson than my grandma. Her ability to take care of ten kids during the depression is nothing short of inspiring.
It’s hard to believe a college dropout could be soimpactful, but Steve Jobs’ contributions to technology can’t be denied.

2. Effective or Efficient Examples

Nevertheless, the financial literacy program was the most impactful community initiative launched in the last 50 years.
Interestingly, the new printer was incredible impactful in reducing our annual expenses.

3. Significant, Important, or Major Examples

The first time I heard an aria was the single most impactful moment of my musical career.
Therefore, the decision to enter World War II was an impactful event for the end of US isolationism.

4. Compelling, Persuasive, or Convincing Examples

Theimpactfulwords of Martin Luther King Jr. are still remembered and admired to this day.

5. Emotional or Gripping Examples

The victim’s statement was soimpactful,it brought the entire courtroom to tears.

6. Forceful or Potent (Like an Impact) Examples

The dictator delivered his remarks with exaggerated gestures and an impactful tone.
A woman pointing to a board containing the synonyms to the word impactful like effectual, affective, and productive.
Some may consider words like dynamic, significant, pivotal and gripping to be better than using the controversial word impactful.

What Does an Impactful Person Mean?

An impactful person means that someone is important, persuasive, or monumental. Do you know someone who helped you change your life? That’s an example of an impactful person, or a person that made a great impact. They’re also influential, or skilled communicators that often inspire others to take action. Celebrities, historical figures, and politicians are examples of impactful people. They’ve all had a significant impact on our lives, or society, and/or the way the world has evolved.

If Mrs. Kohl hadn’t been such animpactfulteacher, I don’t know if I would’ve gone on to graduate.
When you talk about physics, perhaps no historical figure has been moreimpactfulthan Isaac Newton.

What is the Opposite of Impactful?

Since the definition of impactful is to have an impact, it follows that the opposite of impactful is to have little or no impact. In fact, antonyms for impactful include ineffectual, trivial, unimpressive, and forgettable.

Here are some words that mean the opposite of impactful:

  • Ineffective
  • Unaffecting
  • Weak
  • Feckless
  • Ineffectual
  • Powerless
  • Trivial
  • Pointless
  • Frail
  • Impotent
  • Feeble
  • Inadequate
  • Flimsy
  • Inept
  • Boring
  • Forgettable
  • Meager
  • Unmoving
  • Unstirring
  • Unimpressive
  • Useless

Have our words had any impact? Use these PRO tips to create more impactful essays, books, or emails. Plus, express yourself as clearly as possible.

Let’s Test how Impactful This Article is to you!

Impactful Question #1

Which of these statements is FALSE about “Impactful”?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. “Impactful” is an adjective that means to leave a mark.

Impactful Definition Question #2

The word “impactful” is controversial among contemporary editors.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. Some editors argue that preexisting words such as “effective” and “influential” work just fine.

Impactful Synonym Question #3

Which of these is not a synonym for impactful
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. “Feckless” is the opposite of “impactful”.

Impactful Question #4

“Impactful” can mean that someone or something is ______.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. You can use “impactful” to convey all of the above.

Impactful Synonym Question #5

Which of these is NOT the opposite of impactful?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is C. “Persuasive” is another word for “impactful.”

Impactful Quiz Result
Expert!

Expert!

Not bad!

Not bad!

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Read More: Verbiage: What it is, how to Pronounce it, and how to Avoid it

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What Et Al. Means and How to Use It Correctly

Et al. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "et alia," which means "and others" in English.

Main Et al. Takeaways:

  • Et al. comes from the Latin word meaning and others.
  • It’s used in scholarly texts and other source-inclusive writing like footnotes bibliographic lists, and on the covers of books that have multiple authors or contributors.
  • The period comes after the al because it’s an abbreviation of alia.
  • Et al. is for lists of people while etc. is for lists of things.
  • Et al. can also stand for et alibi. It means and elsewhere and is used to reference a subject that appears in other places in a text.

Et al. is an abbreviation for a Latin phrase that means and others. When an academic paper has more than one author, we use it after the principle author’s name to substitute multiple names in footnotes and bibliographies. If you’re unsure on how to use et al., here’s a detailed guide for you.

What is the Meaning of Et Al.?

The term is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase et alia. This is a gender-neutral term that means and others. It can also stand for et alii, which is the masculine version usually used for all male-authors. On the other hand, et aliae is the feminine version usually used for all-female authors. Et al. can also stand for et alibi, which means and elsewhere. In this context, it usually references a subject that appears in other places in a text. Think of an alibi for a crime and it’s connection with a place: it confirms you were somewhere than the crime scene when the crime took place.

An elegantly dressed cartoon gentleman explains that et. al means "and others" to a student with curly hair and glasses.
Et al. simply means “and others” in English.

While et al. is one of many Latin phrases the English language has borrowed, it isn’t as common as others. In fact, it appears almost exclusively in very formal writing, like scholarly text and academic publications.

Many style guides advise writers to include all names in the initial citation. Then, only use et al. in subsequent mentions.

How Do You Read Et Al.?

Et al. is the abbreviated way to write the term. However, when you say it out loud, you should say the full term et alia or et alii. Another option is to say the English translation and others just like you might say for example when reading e.g., out loud.

Similarly, you write etc. but when read it out loud, you say the full term et cetera.

How Do You Use Et Al.?

Use this Latin phrase to show that there are additional contributors or collaborators that don’t appear on a list. First, list the name of the principle author. Then, add a space. Next, add et al. Don’t forget to add a period after al.

et al. in a citation: After several rounds of analysis, the survey-based research (Ruben et al., 2016) led to the theory that dog was woman’s best friend.
et al. in a bibliography: Ruben, Kate “Woman’s Best Friend: Canine as Companion”The Four-Legged Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition. Ed. Percival Mutt, et al. 2016. 62-79
The INK square character pictured with a mustache and holding an academic pointer. He's pointing at
Et al. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “et alia,” which means “and others” in English.

How Do You Write Et Al. in APA

What’s more, the rules of usage can vary depending on the stylebook you follow. In particular, the APA Stylebook has several specific rules when it comes to et al.

APA Rules for Using Et al.:

  • Don’t italicize it.
  • You don’t use it for references with one or two authors.
  • If a reference has three, four, or five authors, the first citation should not use et al. All subsequent citations should includeet al.
  • References with six or more authors should include one name, followed by et al.
  • If et al. creates ambiguity, names may be written out in all citations. This may include citations with overlapping authors.

Can You Use Et Al. in a Greeting?

Have you ever sent an email on behalf of your team or organization and got an email response with this kind of greeting: “Dear John et al.“? As discussed in this post, et al. means and others in English. Because of that, some people tend to add et al. at the end of their email greeting to address not just the one who sent the email but the group of people or organization he/she’s representing. Simply put, that greeting meant “Dear John and others“.

To answer the question, yes you can use et al. in your email greeting. But the real question is: Is it proper to use et al. in a greeting? The quick answer is no. Here are three reasons why you should avoid the use of et al. in your email greeting:

1. We use et al. to imply that there are other contributors to a written work, like a book or academic paper, that are not shown in the list of authors and contributors.

2. Et al. is commonly used in bibliographies, particularly footnotes and citations.

3. Et al. is a very formal term and not all people know what it means. Using it when greeting a group of people, whether in email or other forms of communication, can lead to confusion.

Why Use Et Al.?

First, it shortens or simplifies references such as bibliographies, in-text citations, and footnotes that include two or more contributors or authors.

Secondly, this phrase can also be a useful tool for keeping book covers uncluttered. This is especially the case for books like multi-author collections or anthologies.

How to Punctuate Et Al.

1. When to Use a Period

When using et al., there’s an easy rule for remembering where the period goes. Since the al is an abbreviation of alia, place the period after it to indicate a shortened word.

et al.
et. al
et. al.
et al*
You may see Et al. written without any periods. This may be more acceptable in less formal documents.
Et al. shortens or simplifies references such as bibliographies, in-text citations, and footnotes that include two or more contributors or authors.
Et al. shortens or simplifies references such as bibliographies, in-text citations, and footnotes that include two or more contributors or authors.

On the other hand, if the phrase sits at the end of a sentence, it requires a single period.

I was surprised to find that it isn’t difficult to punctuateet al.

2. When to Use a Comma

Do not put a comma between the last surname in the list and et al.

However, a comma may follow Et al. where you would need a comma to maintain correct grammar. One example is in situations where the phrase and others would require a comma after it:

The little-known source he used, which was credited to Jacobson et al., should be acceptable for our purposes.

Another example is with dates:

The findings of the recently published study (Fuertes et al., 2020) confirm that including critical thinking exercises in the curriculum improve some test scores.

Et Al. vs. Etc.

It’s true that et al. and etc. both come from Latin. They are also both abbreviations. And, we use them both to stand in for items not explicitly included in a list.

However, these terms aren’t interchangeable.

On one hand, et al. refers to people and is short for et alia. It means and others.

On the other hand, etc. refers to concepts or things and is short for et cetera. It means and so forth.

A period always comes after 'al' in et al. because it's an abbreviation of the Latin word 'alia.'
A period always comes after ‘al’ in et al. because it’s an abbreviation of the Latin word ‘alia.’

What’s more, et al. usually appears in formal research-driven or scholarly texts. Conversely, etc. appears in most types of writing.

(etc.):The local farm stand has a wide variety of produce: apples, pears, cherries, lettuce, green beans, etc.
(et al.):Creation of a new vaccine was credited to the groundbreaking research done in 2016 by Hudsonet al.

Yes, There Are Two of Them—The Other Et Al.

In Latin, et alibi means and elsewhere.

You can use it at the end of a list of locations. In this case, it functions as a stand-in for places rather than people or things.

However, we don’t mean geographical or physical places like Canada, or Las Vegas. When considering the other et al., the meaning in most cases is slightly different. In this way, we usually use it to refer to page numbers in book or specific lines in a text.

For example, Et alibi is used to reference specific occurrences of subjects or words in a body of text such as The Bible or Dune.

In other words, we use to let the reader know exactly where to go in a text to find the information we just referenced

In her comprehensive guide to mythological creatures, the author referred to sea serpents on pages 12, 34, 57, 92,et al.

Unless you’re a student, an academic, or a researcher, you may never have to use et al. in anything you write.

Quick Et Al. Quiz

Et Al. Question #1

Et al. is mainly useful in formal writing.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. Et al. is used in academic citations when referring to a source with multiple authors.

Et Al. Question #2

Select the odd one in the list below.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Et alii and et aliae are gender-sensitive variants of et alia, which means "and others." Meanwhile, et alibi means "and elsewhere."

Et Al. Question #3

Which statement is incorrect?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. Et al. has a Latin origin.

Et Al. Question #4

Et al. and Etc. are interchangeable in a sentence.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Unlike Et al., which refers to people, etc. refers to concepts or things.

Read More: Quid Pro Quo: What it is and how to use it, a Quick Guide

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How to Use "For All Intents and Purposes" in a Sentence

A town crier holding a scroll with an announcement. Text reads, for all intents and purposes.

Main For All Intents and Purposes Takeaways:

  • “For all intents and purposes” is an idiomatic expression which means in effect or in every practical way.
  • Intensive purpose is an eggcorn for the correct phrase intents and purposes.
  • Use “for all intents and purposes” when you want to express that one thing has basically the same result or effect as another.
  • Eggcorn occurs when you mistakenly replace words or phrases with similar-sounding terms without changing their meaning

For all intents and purposes, this quick guide will show you exactly how to use the correct idiom in a sentence, so you can look good in front of any audience.

For all intensive purposes, the universe is infinite.
For all intents and purposes,the baker’s decision to use rice flour instead of wheat made the bread gluten-free.
A town crier holding a scroll with an announcement. Text reads, for all intents and purposes.
Use “for all intents and purposes” when you want to express that one thing has basically the same result or effect as another.

What Does “For All Intents and Purposes” Mean?

“For all intents and purposes” is an idiomatic expression which means in effect or in every practical way. It implies that one thing may not be the same as another thing but it may lead to the same result or effect.

Some mistake “for all intents and purposes” for the incorrect phrase “for all intensive purposes” because the two sound almost identical when spoken aloud. However, this error is a great example of an eggcorn which occurs when we mistakenly replace words or phrases with similar-sounding terms without changing their meaning. As a rule of thumb, you may use “for all intents and purposes” the same way you would use “at the end of the day.”

What is an Intensive Purpose?

On one hand, the adjective “intensive” means concentrated, vigorous, or thorough. On the other hand, the noun “purpose” refers to the reason for doing something or the will to accomplish an aspiration. Therefore, an intensive purpose might be a concentrated aspiration. However, this is usually an erroneous phrase that doesn’t make much sense. In fact, it’s an eggcorn for the correct phrase “intents and purposes.”

His comments about the speaker were,for all intensive purposes, taken out of context.
For all intents and purposes, Henry’s divorce from his first wife was a divorce from the Catholic church.

Therefore, “for all intensive purposes” is an eggcorn — a mistake that results from someone mishearing words or phrases and creating brand-new soundalikes (e.g., the incorrect eggcorn for the correct acorn).

[Example]

  • Expatriates deteriorate into ex-patriots.
  • Polite diners swap silverware for civilware.
  • Important cases skip the Supreme Court and end up at the Extreme Court. [/example]

From a literal standpoint, “for all intensive purposes” means “for all thorough aspirations.” That doesn’t make much sense.

📝 In linguistics, eggcorns are also called ononyms.
An image of an eggcorn dangling from the phrase "for all intensive purposes." The correct phrase is "for all intents and purposes."
“For all intensive purposes” is a great example of an eggcorn, which occurs when we mistakenly replace words or phrases but the meaning stays intact.

How Do You Use All Intents and Purposes?

Use “for all intents and purposes” when you want to express that one thing has basically the same result or effect as another. This means you can use this idiom in the same way that you might use the word “essentially,” or the phrase “in effect.” More informal alternatives are “pretty much” and “at the end of the day.” Finally, you can use this phrase at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle, directly after the verb (His absence from the meeting was, for all intents and purposes, an act of protest).

Here are examples of how to use for all intents and purposes in a sentence:

Gerald said that,for all intents and purposes, he’d finished building the new company website.
For all intents and purposes, the professor just read from his book for two hours.
Julie felt that,for all intents and purposes, she’d seen all the theme park had to offer.
Her decision to finally speak to him was, for all intents and purposes, an act of forgiveness.
📜👑 We can trace the origins of this phrase back to 16th Century England. In fact, a similar phrase first appeared in a 1546 Act of Parliament. This legal document used the phrase “to all intents, constructions, and purposes” to show that the notorious King Henry VIII essentially had unlimited power in interpreting the laws of the land.

Common usage opted to drop the word “constructions,” and the British English variant “to all intents and purposes” survives to this day. Conversely, American English speakers prefer the idiom with the preposition “for.”

A young man wearing a name tag, which reads "intents and purposes." He's holding two placards, which read in effect and essentially.
The phrase “for all intents and purposes” is commonly used in the same manner as the word “essentially” or the phrase “in effect.”

Is Purpose the Same as Intent?

Both words are nouns, but intent does not mean the same as purpose. While intention describes the way you plan to achieve a goal, purpose is the goal or the achievement itself. In other words, intention wants to do something, while purpose actually does it. Additionally, synonyms for purpose include ambition, direction, goal, objective, and scheme. Conversely, other words for intent include determination, resolution, and preoccupation.

“Iintendto find my true place in the world,” said the Speaker, striding quickly out of parliament.
Sheilaintendedto collect her post later.
Mark found hispurposein life when he began climbing mountains.

Take This Quick Quiz About For All Intents and Purposes

For all Intents and Purposes Question #1

“For all intents and purposes” means any of the following, EXCEPT:
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. “For all intensive purposes “ is an eggcorn — a mistake that results from someone mishearing words.

All Intents and Purposes Question #2

Which of the following is an informal alternative for “for all intents and purposes”?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is C. Either of these phrases are informal alternatives you can use for “for all intents and purposes”.

Intents and Purposes Question #3

The origins of “for all intents and purposes” can be traced back to 16th century England.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. A similar phrase — “to all intents, constructions, and purposes” — appeared in a 1546 Act of Parliament.

All Intents and Purposes Question #4

The words “intent” and “purpose” have the same meaning.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Intention describes the way you plan to achieve a goal. On the other hand, "purpose" is the goal or achievement.

For all Intents and Purposes Question #5

Which of these is NOT a synonym for “purpose”?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. “Resolution” is another word for “intent.”

For all Intents and Purposes Quiz Result
You're an expert!

You're an expert!

Not Bad!

Not Bad!

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

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Read More: 🌦️🐏 The Easiest way to get Weather and Whether Right

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Gerund Phrase: Definition and Rules on Proper Usage

Gerund Phrase

Main Gerund Phrase Takeaways:

  • Gerunds are nouns created from the verb roots plus –ing.
  • For this reason, gerund phrases function as nouns in a sentence.
  • A gerund phrase consists of a gerund and any objects or modifiers linked with it.
  • Entire gerund phrases act as objects, subjects, or predicate nominatives.
  • Verbs ending in –ing are either gerundsorpresent participles.
  • A dangling gerundphrase doesn’t have a clear subject. It’s best to avoid this construction because it may confuse your readers.

Gerund sounds like a foreign word, but gerunds are actually a common part of the English language — and so are gerund phrases. In this guide, we’ll show you what a gerund phrase is and how to use it best with plenty of easy examples.

Gerund Phrase
A gerund phrase has an object, modifier, or both. When used in a sentence, it acts as a noun.

What is a Gerund and Gerund Phrase?

A gerund (pronounced jer-und) is a noun created by adding the ending –ing to a verb (Example: laughing). Similarly, a gerund phrase is a phrase made up of a gerundplus any associated objects or modifiers (Example: Eating an entire pizza…). Even though a gerund is made out of a verb, gerunds and entire gerund phrases actually behave like nouns. In fact, both gerunds and gerund phrases can be objects, subjects, or predicate nominatives.

Binge-watching sci-fi moviesis my guilty pleasure.
My dream holiday includessailing to every Greek island.
Forgetting to shut the window in winterwill make you cold.
I’d like to beginwalking every day.
She decided to trycalling her friend on the phone.

How Do You Identify a Gerund Phrase?

It’s easy to identify a gerund phrase because this type of phrase always follows these four easy rules:

  1. Gerund phrases always start with a gerund.
  2. A gerund phrase has an object, modifier, or both.
  3. The entire gerund phrase acts as a noun.
  4. Since it behaves like a noun, the gerund phrase has singular agreement with a verb.

🤔💡 If the answer to all of these questions is “Yes,” then you’ve identified a gerund phrase:

  • Does it begin with a gerund?
  • Does it have an object or a modifier (or both)?
  • Does the entire phrase function as a noun?
  • Does the entire phrase have singular agreement with a verb?
Pouring too much batter into your cake tinmight result in disaster.

Let’s confirm that the bold portion in the above sentence is in fact a gerund phrase:

Does it begin with a gerund?

Yes. The sentence begins with the gerund pouring.

Does it have an object or a modifier (or both)?

Yes. “Too” is a modifier and “batter” is an object.

Does the entire phrase function as a noun?

Yes. The entire phrase “pouring too much batter into your cake tin” functions as an entire unit.

What’s more, it’s the subject of the sentence, making it a noun.

Finally, you can substitute the gerund phrase with the phrase “this thing” and the sentence still makes sense. Because a noun is a thing, you’ve confirmed that the complete gerund phrase is acting as a noun.

What is an Example of a Gerund Phrase?

Here are gerund phrase examples in a sentence:

Always wear steel toe boots whenchopping trees down with an axe.
Cutting vegetables with a sharp kniferequires caution.
Sheila hatedrunning with her sneakers untied.
My teacher will give me detention forrunning in the main hall.
Eating too much candy before dinner will ruin your appetite.
Speaking loudly in the librarydisturbs other patrons.
Carla recommendedwalking to the park instead of taking the car.
Drinking too much water can be as harmful as drinking too little.
What is a gerund phrase. A gerund phrase is composed of a gerund (verb plus -ing), a preposition, article, or both, and a noun. Examples: exercising at the park and walking my dog.
A gerund phrase is a phrase made up of a gerund plus any associated objects or modifiers.

What is a Dangling Gerund Phrase?

Like a dangling modifier, dangling gerund phrases don’t clearly express who the subject of the sentence is. Examples of dangling gerund phrase constructions include “By being kinder to one another, the world can be a better place,” and “The world can be a better place by being kinder to one another.” In both examples, it’s not clear who can make the world a better place. We can correct the dangling gerund phrase by making the subject explicit: By being kinder to one another, we can make the world a better place.

Technical writers tend to use this structure. We recommend avoiding it to make sure you always express yourself as clearly as possible and never risk confusing your readers.

Gerunds are nouns created from a verb plus –ing. Notwithstanding, not all ing words are gerunds. For example, some are present participles. Additionally, gerund phrases include any of the gerund’s associated modifiers or objects.

How is a Gerund Used in a Sentence?

The word gerund comes from the Latingerundus, which means “to carry on.” Simply put, gerunds are actually verbs ending in –ing — but they function as nouns. For example, words like running, jumping, exciting, getting, and telling are all gerunds. Moreover, as nouns, gerunds are objects, subjects, or predicate nominatives (also known as subject complements).

My favorite hobby issleeping. (predicate nominative)
My husband’s snoringis hard to ignore. (subject)
I likereadingon Sunday afternoons. (direct object)
They’ll be interested intalkingto you. (object of preposition)
Runningis good for your health. (subject)
Fran avoideddoinglaundry. (doingacts as agerund)

How Do You Tell the Difference Between a Gerund and a Verb?

Generally, a verb is an action word with a tense, like “heating,” while a gerund is a verb word that has been changed to a noun, e.g., “heating up”. As a noun, a gerund can only be modified by an adjective. On the other hand, a verb is modified by an adverb. See examples below:

(gerund modified by an adjective)His superb cooking delighted the guests.
(verb modified by an adverb)He delighted the guests by cooking superbly.
(gerund modified by an adjective)Her loud crying caught the attention of bystanders.
(verb modified by an adverb)She caught the attention of the bystanders by crying loudly.

Since gerunds are nouns, they can’t have direct objects, but they can be the object of a preposition. Meanwhile, verbs can have direct objects.

(gerund as object of preposition)My love for reading started when I was still a child.
(verb with direct object)I have loved reading books since I was a child.

Are all -ing Verbs Gerunds?

While gerunds are verbal nouns ending in –ing, it’s important to note that not all words ending in –ing are gerunds. For instance, sometimes, –ing words act as a present participle instead. For example, in the sentence “Laughing is a lot of fun,” the word “laughing” acts as a gerund. However, in the sentence “Juliet is laughing at your joke,” the word “laughing” acts as a a present continuous verb.

He really enjoyeddriving. (drivingacts as agerund)
Patrick was drivingdown the road. (drivingacts as apast continuous verb)
Parts of a gerund phrase. A guy waving tagged as gerund waving at a woman tagged as modifier/object.
Gerunds are nouns created from the verb roots plus –ing. For this reason, gerund phrases function as nouns in a sentence.

Take our Quick Gerund Phrase Quiz

Gerund Phrase Question #1

The word gerund has its origins in the Latin gerundus.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. The latin word gerundus means “to carry on.”

Gerund Question #2

A gerund is a ___ made of a ___ plus “-ing.”
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. Gerunds are nouns created from verb roots plus -ing.

Gerunds Question #3

Which of these words can function as a gerund?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Gerunds are verbs (race) that end in “ing” (racing).

Gerund Phrases Question #4

Which of these sentences contain a gerund?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. Gerunds function as a noun in a sentence, not present participles.

Gerund Phrase Question #5

Which of the following is TRUE about a gerund phrase?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. These specific rules make gerund phrases easy to spot.

Gerund Phrase Question #6

Dangling gerund phrases don’t clearly express who a sentence’s subject is.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is TRUE. Like dangling modifiers, dangling gerunds can confuse readers.

Gerund Phrases Quiz Result
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Read More: Easy Prepositional Phrase Guide with Examples