Learn German: Ich bin am Ausweichen, aber der Boss ist zu schnell.

In the colloquial progressive structure (am-Progressiv), the verb is turned into a noun (nominalized). Because it is acting as a noun following the preposition am (a contraction of an + dem), Ausweichen must be capitalized.

If am is short for an dem, what gender is Ausweichen?

All infinitives that are turned into nouns (nominalized) are automatically neuter in German. So it is das Ausweichen. In this structure, the preposition an requires the dative case, making it an dem Ausweichen, which contracts to am Ausweichen.

ausweichen is a separable prefix verb. Does it always stay together when used in this am structure?

Yes! When you nominalize a separable verb like ausweichen (to dodge), you keep the prefix attached and write it as one single capitalized word. If you were using it as a regular conjugated verb in a main clause, it would separate (for example, Ich weiche aus).

Can I use this am Ausweichen structure in formal writing, like an essay?