Came across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Came across" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of finding or discovering something unexpectedly. Example: "While cleaning the attic, I came across an old photo album that brought back many memories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He came across like an everyday guy".

Los Angeles Times

Came across so patrician.

The New Yorker

Came across this unique watch on BoingBoing.

TechCrunch

They came across great.

The New Yorker

Gains came across the market.

The New York Times

I came across this pub.

Independent

Derek came across the street.

The New Yorker

It really came across".

The Guardian

Like who came across?

The Guardian - Books

Who came across as more presidential?

The New York Times

It came across as blunt and ungrateful.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came across" when you want to emphasize the unexpected or accidental nature of a discovery or encounter.

Common error

Avoid using "came across" when describing a planned or deliberate search. Instead, use verbs like "found" or "located" to indicate intentionality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came across" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically a transitive verb, indicating an action performed on an object. It suggests an accidental or unexpected finding or encounter. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "came across" is a versatile and commonly used expression that vividly describes the act of unexpectedly encountering or discovering something. With strong support from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, "came across" functions as a phrasal verb that is suitable for various contexts and primarily used to suggest an accidental or unexpected finding or encounter, Ludwig AI provides evidence for the phrase's proper usage and high frequency. Keep in mind to use it correctly, implying the event occurred by chance, as opposed to being planned.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happened upon

Emphasizes the element of chance encounter, similar to "came across".

chanced upon

Another way to emphasize the accidental nature of the discovery; similar to "came across".

encountered

A more formal synonym for "came across", suggesting a less casual encounter.

stumbled upon

Implies a more accidental or random discovery than "came across".

discovered

A broader term for finding something, whether intentionally or by chance, unlike "came across" which usually implies chance.

found

A simple and direct synonym for "came across", lacking the nuance of unexpectedness.

ran into

Similar to "came across" but often used in the context of meeting someone unexpectedly.

met with

Describes an encounter, which can be planned or accidental, varying from "came across" which is often unplanned.

unearthed

Suggests discovering something hidden or buried, differing from the general sense of "came across".

detected

Focuses on noticing or becoming aware of something, rather than a physical encounter implied by "came across".

FAQs

What does "came across" mean?

"Came across" means to find or meet someone or something unexpectedly.

How can I use "came across" in a sentence?

You can use "came across" in a sentence to describe an unexpected discovery, such as "While cleaning, I "came across" some old photos".

What's the difference between ""came across"" and "found"?

"Came across" implies an accidental discovery, while "found" can refer to both intentional and unintentional discoveries.

What can I say instead of ""came across""?

You can use alternatives like "encountered", "stumbled upon", or "discovered" depending on the context.