How to use "accompanying this"

What Does "accompanying this" Mean?

• Grammatical function: It indicates that something is presented alongside or in connection with the main subject being discussed. This is an additive function, introducing related information, often visual or supplementary material.
• Typical sentence position: Initial or medial.
• Register: Neutral to formal.

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: When used at the beginning of a sentence, it's often followed by a noun phrase and a verb. In the middle of a sentence, it usually follows a noun phrase and precedes a verb. For instance: "Accompanying this document is a detailed explanation." or "The chart accompanying this article tells the story."
• Punctuation rules: When 'accompanying this' starts a sentence, it's followed by a comma. When it's used mid-sentence, it typically doesn't require commas unless it introduces a non-essential clause.
• Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence or appear in the middle. It's not typically negated directly (e.g., "not accompanying this").
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Placing 'accompanying this' after the main verb or awkwardly separating it from the noun it modifies can sound unnatural. For example, "This the chart accompanying tells the story" is incorrect.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from accompanying this on Ludwig.guru.

"And accompanying this review." — The New York Times - Books

"The chart accompanying this column illustrates this." — The New York Times

"There are some concerns accompanying this trend." — MIT Technology Review

"Accompanying this handiwork, sinisterly, was a pig's head." — The Guardian

"All other data supporting this study are provided as Supplementary Information accompanying this paper." — Nature

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/accompanying+this

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
alongside this	Similar meaning, slightly less formal.
with this	More general, can indicate accompaniment or instrument.
in addition to this	Emphasizes adding information, more formal.
together with this	Highlights the combined presentation of elements.
supplementing this	Emphasizes that the accompanying element provides extra information.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect preposition: Using other prepositions instead of 'accompanying' (e.g., "beside this", "next to this") is incorrect.
• Awkward Placement: Placing the phrase in a way that disrupts the flow of the sentence or separates it too far from the noun it modifies. For example, "This the information accompanying explains the process" is awkward.
• Learners might incorrectly use a more formal or complex phrase when a simpler connective would suffice, or they might place it awkwardly within a sentence.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
accompanying this	Introduces related/supplementary information	Neutral to formal	Initial or medial

FAQs

Where can "accompanying this" be placed in a sentence?

Accompanying this can appear at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma, or in the middle of a sentence, often following the noun it modifies. For example, "Accompanying this report is a detailed analysis," or "The data accompanying this study supports the findings."

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How does "accompanying this" differ from "in addition to this"?

While both phrases introduce related information, "accompanying this" specifically suggests that the information is presented alongside or with the main subject, often visually or as supplementary material. "In addition to this" simply emphasizes that the information is being added, without necessarily implying simultaneous presentation.

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What's a common mistake to avoid when using "accompanying this"?

A common mistake is to use a more complex or formal phrase than necessary or to place the phrase awkwardly within the sentence. For example, instead of saying "Accompanying this is the relevant data," a simpler construction like "The relevant data accompanies this" might be clearer and more direct for some contexts.