across a crowd of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across a crowd of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe movement or visibility through a group of people or objects. Example: "She spotted her friend across a crowd of festival-goers, waving enthusiastically."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

On any given day you can expect to stumble across a crowd of banner-waving protesters.

The Economist

The video pans across a crowd of students wearing backpacks and jackets standing in the school's cafeteria.

The Washington Post

The performance prompted cheers across a crowd of about 8,000 in Carson, Calif., highlighting the mistrust and alienation that Sanders's most ardent fans feel about Clinton, the Democrats and their "rigged" system.

The Washington Post

Dawdling along the six-mile walk home from school one day, the narrator comes across a crowd of people near the Bata Shoe factory, animatedly discussing the daring escape of a young man from a police truck on the road.

The Guardian - Books

He glances across a crowd of hundreds of hopeful migrants.

BBC

On State Street, Madison, Wisconsin, across a crowd of white faces, a black man sends a quick sharp nod my way.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Across town, a crowd of more than 1,000 people marched to Mr. Arafat's headquarters, by the sea.

The New York Times

Across from her, a crowd of older men, betting tickets in hand, stood staring at several televisions mounted on the wall showing races in other states and Canada.

The New York Times

Most of the marchers went to sleep in their four tents soon after supper, but at Steele's Service Station, across the highway, a crowd of Negroes from the neighborhood had gathered.

The New Yorker

Across 111th Street a crowd of students gathered to rally for Wells' reinstatement.

Forbes

Across Iowa and then across America," Warren told a crowd of about 500 in Council Bluffs.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across a crowd of" when describing movement or visibility extending from one side of a group of people to another. For example, "He saw her waving across a crowd of concert-goers."

Common error

Avoid using "across a crowd of" to describe something merely located within the crowd. Instead, use "in the crowd" or "among the crowd" for stationary positions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across a crowd of" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by indicating location or direction. It specifies the spatial relationship, showing movement or sight extending over a multitude of people, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "across a crowd of" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to describe movement or visibility spanning a group of people. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, with neutral register. While not extremely frequent, its usage is well-supported by authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. Ludwig AI validates the proper usage of the phrase and provides alternative phrasing options for different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amidst a throng of

Replaces "across" with "amidst" to emphasize being surrounded by the crowd.

through a sea of

Uses a metaphorical "sea" to describe the crowd, highlighting its vastness.

within a multitude of

Emphasizes the large number of people, focusing on containment.

among a gathering of

Uses "gathering" to soften the image of a large crowd, implying a more organized assembly.

surrounded by a host of

Highlights being encircled by the crowd, using "host" to suggest a welcoming atmosphere.

in the midst of a swarm of

Evokes a more active, possibly overwhelming, crowd with "swarm".

through a mass of

Focuses on the density and volume of the crowd.

overlooking a sea of

Changes the perspective to an elevated viewpoint looking down on the crowd.

observing a gathering of

Implies a more detached observation of the crowd.

navigating through a throng of

Emphasizes the act of moving through a dense and bustling crowd.

FAQs

How can I use "across a crowd of" in a sentence?

Use "across a crowd of" to describe seeing something or moving through a large group of people. For example, "She spotted him "across a crowd of" protesters."

What can I say instead of "across a crowd of"?

You can use alternatives like "through a sea of", "amidst a throng of", or "within a multitude of" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct: "across a crowd of" or "in a crowd of"?

"Across a crowd of" implies movement or visibility spanning the crowd, while "in a crowd of" indicates being situated inside the crowd. Choose the option that best reflects the intended meaning.

What is the difference between "through a crowd of" and "across a crowd of"?

"Through a crowd of" focuses on the act of navigating within the crowd, whereas "across a crowd of" highlights a line of sight or movement that extends from one side of the group to another.