across

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'across' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a preposition that is used to describe movement from one side of an area to the other. For example, “Dave ran across the field to catch his Frisbee.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Still, the story ends with a glorious flourish that should be pure feelgood cheese but actually comes across as uncontrived and genuinely emotional (it would be a crime to spoil it).

The Guardian - Film

Leigh Daynes, executive director of Doctors of the World UK, said: "The failure to ensure equitable access to healthcare across Europe is this century's hidden public health time bomb.

The Guardian

"Every country in the world has a right to self-defence and I'm determined to put Britain's first-class defence industry at the forefront of this market, supporting 300,000 jobs across the country".

The Guardian - Business

"Every day, mosques and other faith institutions across the country are providing help for those in need, and acting as a centre for our communities.

The Guardian

The Times reported that he said: "You have tanks and armour rolling across the Ukrainian border, and you have an Estonian border guard being captured and not yet still returned.

The Guardian

"Austerity, poverty and exclusion risk robbing an entire generation of healthy, productive lives across a continent that undervalues the benefits of universal healthcare.

The Guardian

Nigeria's Transition Monitoring Group, which had observers across the country, said: "These issues did not systematically disadvantage any candidate or party".

The Guardian

In reality, the effect on MPs' seats is more complex to measure as voters are not spread evenly across constituencies: some areas within may heavily favour one party, others its main rival.

The Guardian

For every year that's pushed out that's a year longer that it will take to make a real difference for people across the world".

The Guardian

Turkmenistan has expressed interest in exporting to the EU via a trans-Caspian pipeline and to India and Pakistan across Afghanistan, but the plans are yet to get off the drawing board.

The Guardian

"Best practice from the independence referendum must be followed – and that includes extending the vote in an EU referendum to 16- and 17-year-olds across the UK.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across" to indicate movement from one side of something to another, or to describe something that spans a distance or area. For example, "They walked across the bridge" or "The news spread across the country."

Common error

Avoid confusing "across" with "a cross", which is a noun referring to a shape or symbol. Ensure your intended meaning is clear from the context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "across" is as a preposition, indicating movement, position, or extent. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage in various contexts. It connects nouns or pronouns to other elements in a sentence, showing spatial relationships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "across" is a versatile preposition commonly used to describe movement, location, or extension, primarily within the realm of news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. To avoid confusion, remember its distinct meaning from "a cross". Leverage "across" to clearly convey spatial relationships, and explore synonyms like "on the other side of" or "throughout" to diversify your writing. This ensures your writing is both accurate and engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the other side of

This alternative emphasizes location relative to a barrier or space.

over

This implies movement above or beyond something.

passing through

This focuses on the act of moving into and out of a space.

throughout

This emphasizes distribution or extent rather than physical movement or location.

crosswise

This indicates an arrangement or direction in the form of a cross.

spanning

This highlights the act of extending or reaching over a distance or time.

from one end to the other

This emphasizes complete coverage of a space.

transversely

This denotes a direction or orientation perpendicular to a given axis.

covering

This highlights the surface or extent affected.

intersecting

This indicates a point or line where two things meet or cross.

FAQs

How can I use "across" in a sentence?

"Across" can be used to show movement from one side to the other (e.g., "She ran across the street"), location on the opposite side (e.g., "The store is across the street"), or extension over an area (e.g., "All across the country, people celebrated").

What's the difference between "across" and "through"?

"Across" typically implies movement or location on the surface or outer boundary of something, while "through" implies movement within or inside something. For example, you walk "across" a bridge but "through" a tunnel.

Which is correct: "across to" or "across"?

Generally, "across" is sufficient. You can say "He walked across the street" instead of "He walked across to the street". The "to" is often redundant.

What are some alternatives to using "across"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "on the other side of", "throughout", or "spanning".