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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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Tap along

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"tap along" is a correct and usable phrase in written English
You can use this phrase to refer to an act of moving or beating rhythmically with one's fingers. For example, "the drummer tapped along to the beat of the song."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

There's plenty of music on tap (along with homemade-pie contests each night).

News & Media

The New Yorker

Stop for lunch at Tap and Barrel Shipyards for local craft beers and wine on tap, along with sustainable seafood, piled-high pizzas and rice bowls.

News & Media

The Guardian

First they might twitch a little, then tap along, and then spring into life into extraordinary movement in dance, so it is no wonder that there are so many songs about, or featuring, feet.

Hall & Woodhouse Badger ale is always on tap, along with others from an ever-changing selection of seasonal ales, and the food – as you'd expect from a pub that's part of a small chain – is expertly prepared gastropub fare.

This larger space has a ludicrous amount of craft beers on tap, along with the same burger that made them famous, an applewood-smoked bacon compote covered, maytag blue and gruyere cheese smothered, caramelized onions, and arugula-topped flavour bomb.

News & Media

BBC

Rotating craft beers from local California breweries — including Costa Mesa's Barley Forge — will be on tap, along with imported beers from Korea and Japan, he said.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times
Show more...

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

But here we are, five years later, and the tap-along peripherals are back.

News & Media

Vice

Said to be a "more realistic" take on the tap-along-at-home rhythm action game that sold a shitload of nasty plastic peripherals now uglying up your wardrobe, publishers Activision may announce the title as early as June's E3, most probably as a current-gen-only affair.

News & Media

Vice

Said to be a "more realistic" take on the tap-along-at-home rhythm action game that sold a shit-load of nasty plastic peripherals now uglying up your wardrobe, publishers Activision may announce the title as early as June's E3, most probably as a current-gen-only affair.

News & Media

Vice

This week's title is "Shall We Dance" (1956), starring Fred Astaire as a ballet dancer, and Ginger Rogers as a tap dancer, along with a lot of romantic complications.

Soon most of the crowd was tapping along with tune.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

When describing musical experiences, use "tap along" to vividly portray someone's engagement with the rhythm.

⚠ Common error

Avoid using "tap along" passively; it implies an active, rhythmic engagement. Instead of saying "the music was tapped along", say "people tapped along to the music".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tap along" functions primarily as a verb phrase, describing the action of rhythmically tapping fingers or feet in response to music or a beat. Ludwig shows several examples where it depicts active engagement with music.

Expression frequency: Common

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

⚠ Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tap along" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that describes the action of rhythmically tapping in response to music. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is to convey enjoyment or participation. It maintains a neutral register and appears frequently in news and media sources. While there are nuances in the alternatives such as "move in time" or "beat time", the phrase is well-established and effective in portraying rhythmic engagement.

FAQs

What does "tap along" mean?

The phrase "tap along" refers to rhythmically tapping one's fingers or feet in time with music or a beat, indicating enjoyment or engagement with the rhythm.

How can I use "tap along" in a sentence?

You can use "tap along" to describe someone's action: "The audience began to "move in time" with the music".

What are some alternatives to "tap along"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "beat time", "keep pace", or "join in".

Is it correct to say "tapping along" or should it be "tap along"?

Both "tapping along" and "tap along" can be correct, depending on the grammatical structure of the sentence. "Tapping along" is a gerund phrase, while "tap along" is often used as a verb in the imperative or infinitive form.

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: