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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
Tap along
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE 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
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
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
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
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.
News & Media
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.
News & Media
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
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
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
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
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
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.
News & Media
Soon most of the crowd was tapping along with tune.
News & Media
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".
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.
Alternative expressions
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
move in time
Focuses on synchronized movement rather than percussive action.
beat time
Highlights the act of marking rhythm, often with a hand or foot.
keep pace
Emphasizes maintaining a consistent speed or rhythm.
join in
Focuses on participation and agreement rather than rhythm.
chime in
Indicates agreement or participation, often verbally.
fall in line
Suggests conformity and alignment with a group or idea.
More alternative expressions(6)
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"?
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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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested