across the beam

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across the beam" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to navigation, construction, or measurement, often referring to something that spans or crosses a beam. Example: "The signal was transmitted across the beam, ensuring clear communication between the two points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

When they stopped dancing, she stood behind him, her arms around his waist as he walked slowly across the beam.

The New York Times

In laser supermarket scanners, a rotating mirror scans a red beam while clerks move packages across the beam.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A woman wanted to get her car out of the car park but could see this meant walking across the beam.

The Guardian

Hens clucked and fluffed their feathers from the shed, where the tractors were parked, and a cat scampered across the beam of orange night light cast from the creosote pole.

The New Yorker

If the figures for last Tuesday afternoon seem disproportionately high, the reason is that a small boy spent full half hour earnestly moving one hand back and fort across the beam's e ye.

The New Yorker

In this case, there is no variation in the axial velocity across the beam.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Interior roof joists run across the beams and through the exterior wall, extending 12 feet beyond as a shadow-making trellis.

Los Angeles Times

Just begin laying the wood across the beams and be sure to leave enough room for you to get in and out.

WikiHow

You will need to train the growing tips of the vine during the first couple of years, but once established, the wisteria will happily wind itself back and forth across the beams.

WikiHow

By scanning the focused laser beam across the H− beam, the transverse emittance of the H− beam can be reconstructed.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

The image is formed by raster scanning the beam across the sample in x and y directions.

Heritage Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical movements or spatial relationships, ensure the context clearly indicates whether "across the beam" refers to crossing its width, length, or some other dimension.

Common error

Avoid using "across the beam" in abstract or metaphorical senses where it doesn't logically apply. This phrase is best suited for describing literal physical scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the beam" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating a spatial relationship. It describes something that extends or moves from one side of a beam to the other. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across the beam" is grammatically correct and functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a spatial relationship relative to a beam. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is accurate across various contexts, notably in science, news, and media. While not extremely frequent, its purpose is to describe position, extent, or movement relative to a physical beam. The phrase's register can vary from formal and scientific to neutral or informal depending on the source. Therefore, when using "across the beam", it is crucial to consider the context and ensure the physical relationship is clear to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over the beam

Emphasizes a position directly above the beam, differing from a general crossing.

spanning the beam

Highlights the act of covering or extending across the beam's length.

traversing the beam

Implies a more deliberate and continuous movement across the beam.

intersecting the beam

Focuses on the point where something crosses or meets the beam.

bisecting the beam

Specifies crossing the beam at its midpoint, creating two equal parts.

crossing the girder

Uses a synonym for 'beam', changing the specific structural element.

along the beam's path

Indicates movement or extension parallel to the beam's direction.

on the surface of the beam

Specifies a position directly on the beam's outer layer, not necessarily crossing it.

perpendicular to the beam

Indicates an orientation that is at a 90-degree angle to the beam.

transverse to the beam

A more formal or technical way of saying perpendicular to the beam.

FAQs

How is "across the beam" used in technical writing?

In technical writing, "across the beam" often describes the distribution of stress, strain, or other properties within a structural member. Examples include analyzing strain variation or material composition across the beam's thickness.

What is a good alternative to "across the beam" when describing movement?

Alternatives like "over the beam" or "spanning the beam" might be suitable, depending on the specific context and the type of movement you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "across the beam" to describe non-physical phenomena?

While typically used in physical contexts, "across the beam" can be used metaphorically if the beam represents a conceptual structure. However, ensure the metaphor is clear and logical to avoid confusion.

How does "across the beam" differ from "along the beam"?

"Across the beam" implies movement or extension perpendicular to the beam's primary axis, while "along the beam's path" indicates movement parallel to its length.