a subway system

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a subway system" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an underground transportation network in a city. Example: "The city has invested heavily in expanding its subway system to improve public transportation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

By then, we'd had fires consuming Bronx neighborhoods, a subway system veering toward collapse, revelations of systemic police corruption, repeated strikes by city workers and lethal terrorist bombings in Manhattan and at La Guardia Airport.

The New York Times

Others want a subway system.

The New York Times

A subway system has been in operation since 1986.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This great city, the capital of Maharashtra State, does not have a subway system.

The New York Times

A subway system, the Metro, serves Madrid with various lines that extend throughout the city.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In Philadelphia, a subway system was opened in 1907, and Chicago's system opened in 1943.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Traffic-clogged and chaotic, Athens needed a subway system, which it got in 2000.

The New York Times

For instance, only Tokyo has a subway system that carries more people than its buses.

The New York Times

Calcutta was previously the only Indian city with a subway system.

The New York Times

Beach died in 1896, eight years before a subway system was built in New York.

The New York Times

The Sixth Rail (Harmonica Rail) Building and maintaining a subway system is exhausting labor.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a subway system" to provide context for the location and type of transportation when it is essential that the transit method is explicitly an underground train.

Common error

Avoid using "a subway system" when simpler terms like "the metro" or "the underground" would suffice in casual conversation. Overusing the full phrase can sound unnecessarily formal or repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a subway system" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It refers to a specific type of transportation network.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a subway system" is a grammatically sound and widely used noun phrase to describe an underground rail transport network. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability for referring to underground transportation networks. It's commonly found in news reports, encyclopedias and science-related contexts, demonstrating a neutral register. While the exact phrase is appropriate, alternatives such as "metro system" or "underground railway network" can be used for variety or to suit specific regional preferences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

metro system

A common synonym for "subway system", particularly outside of North America.

underground railway network

Replaces "subway" with "underground railway" and "system" with "network", offering a slightly more formal tone.

underground train network

More descriptive, specifying "train" as the mode of transport and "network" instead of "system".

underground rapid transit

Focuses on the speed and underground nature of the transportation.

rapid transit system

Emphasizes the speed of the transit while remaining general.

urban rail transit

Highlights the urban setting and uses "rail transit" as a broader term.

subterranean transit system

Uses a more formal word, subterranean, to describe the subway's location.

municipal underground

Highlights that the subway is underground and operated by the city.

below-ground railway

Simple and direct, emphasizing the location and type of transport.

underground public transportation

More descriptive, clarifying that the subway is for public use.

FAQs

How can I use "a subway system" in a sentence?

You can use "a subway system" to describe an underground railway network, such as "The city invested in "a subway system" to improve transportation".

What's a good alternative to "a subway system"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "metro system", "underground railway network", or simply "the underground".

Is it correct to say "a subway system" or should I use another article?

"A subway system" is grammatically correct when referring to one such system. If referring to a specific system already mentioned, use "the subway system".

How does "bus rapid transit" differ from "a subway system"?

Bus rapid transit uses dedicated bus lanes for faster service, while "a subway system" is an underground rail network. The former is surface-level and typically less expensive to implement.