across state borders

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across state borders" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to something that moves, expands, or exists beyond state boundaries or lines. For example, you might say, "The company's influence has spread across state borders, now reaching customers in four different states."

✓ Grammatically correct

Regulations and Law

Commerce and Trade

Geographical Movement

Data and Information Management

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Regulations are ill-suited for transmission across state borders.

The Economist

Water is traded effectively within states, but not across state borders.

The Economist

Police are co-operating better across state borders and have improved their intelligence-gathering.

The Economist

Regulations vary from state to state, making it hard to transmit energy across state borders.

The Economist

John McCain, for instance, suggests allowing more competition across state borders.

The Economist

The centre imposes a tax on goods that are sold across state borders.

The Economist

Consistent and well-documented data quality over time and across state borders.

Yale University

She considers movement within states, across state borders, and within the framework of the European Union.

Harvard University

But in general, someone must be moved across state borders for the purpose of prostitution before federal prosecutors have jurisdiction.

The New York Times

Judge Masin will also have to decide whether the practice of sending patients across state borders compromised the women's safety.

The New Yorker

There are other impediments to what's called telestroke technology, including licensing roadblocks preventing doctors from practicing across state borders.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across state borders" to describe the geographical scope of an activity, business, or phenomenon, highlighting its impact beyond individual state lines.

Common error

Avoid using "across state borders" when the context is purely local or intrastate. Ensure the action or entity truly involves or affects multiple states.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across state borders" functions primarily as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying verbs to describe the scope or extent of an action or phenomenon that extends beyond the boundaries of a single state. The Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples showing the phrase in action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across state borders" is a very common prepositional phrase used to describe activities, regulations, or phenomena that extend beyond the geographical boundaries of individual states. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted. It is most frequently used in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts to indicate interstate commerce, legal jurisdictions, or multi-state impacts. When writing, it's important to ensure the context truly involves multiple states to avoid misuse. Alternatives like "interstate" or "between states" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. The phrase exhibits neutral register but is often employed in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

crossing state lines

This emphasizes the physical act of moving or transporting something from one state into another.

beyond state boundaries

Emphasizes that something exists or operates outside the defined limits of a single state.

state-to-state

Highlights direct interactions or comparisons between individual states.

multi-state

Indicates something that exists in or affects multiple states simultaneously.

interstate

Refers to something existing or conducted between states, often implying official or formal agreements.

between states

A more general term indicating any interaction, agreement or connection involving multiple states.

federal

Relates to the central government and its jurisdiction over all states.

transnational

Focuses on activities that cross national boundaries rather than state ones.

national

Refers to the entire nation, of which states are components.

regionally

Focuses on a specific group of states within a larger area.

FAQs

How can I use "across state borders" in a sentence?

You can use "across state borders" to describe the movement of goods, people, or information between states. For example, "The company operates "across state borders", selling products in several states".

What are some alternatives to "across state borders"?

Alternatives include "interstate", "between states", or "crossing state lines", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "over state borders" instead of "across state borders"?

While "over" can sometimes indicate movement, "across" is the more standard and widely accepted preposition to use when referring to movement or activity that spans multiple states. Therefore, "across state borders" is the preferred choice.

What does it mean when something is regulated "across state borders"?

It means that the regulation applies to activities or entities that operate in or affect multiple states, often involving federal oversight due to the interstate nature of the issue. This is often used to describe federal laws that deal with interstate commerce or "environmental protection".