inserendo

Inserendo is the present participle (gerund) of the Italian verb inserire, meaning to insert. In standard Italian, inserendo can function as a nonfinite verb form to describe an ongoing action, and it can also be used adjectivally in the sense of “inserted” or “being inserted.” The gerund is invariable with respect to gender and number and is commonly used to connect actions or to indicate how something is done, often in editorial, academic, or descriptive prose.

Etymology and form: inserire derives from in- (in, into) + serere (to join, to place). The present participle inserendo forms part of the -endo gerund pattern used with -ere verbs, and it provides a means to express concurrent or instrumental action, similar to forms in other Romance languages.

Usage: In everyday and formal Italian, inserendo appears in constructions such as “Procediamo, inserendo una nota a piè di pagina” meaning “We proceed, by inserting a footnote,” or “Inserendo questo nuovo dato, l’analisi cambia” meaning “By inserting this new datum, the analysis changes.” It is not a technical term for a single discipline but a grammatical form that editors, writers, and researchers may use to describe the act of inserting or adding material.

Limitations: Because it is a grammatical form rather than a specialized term, inserendo is most often encountered in Italian texts and is generally understood within the context of the surrounding verbs and phrases. It is distinct from nouns such as inserzione (insertion) or inserirsi (to insert oneself).

See also: Inserire; Gerund; Italian grammar.