across the bed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across the bed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is positioned or moving from one side of the bed to the other. Example: "She tossed the blanket across the bed before leaving the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Lying across the bed, he found these things pleasant.

The New Yorker

"This is hard to show you," I said as I slid my laptop across the bed.

The New York Times

They lock in a torrid embrace and sprawl across the bed.

The New Yorker

We tussled silently back and forth across the bed until we were both panting for breath..

The New Yorker

Winston studies Snyder with distaste, splayed out there across the bed.

The New Yorker

The bedroom was a mess, and Annette's body was splayed across the bed.

The New Yorker

"Didn't work," he said to the silent form across the bed.

The New Yorker

"Don't cry," he said, sliding across the bed to take her in his arms.

The Guardian - Books

Charlie reached out across the bed to caress the party's waiting leg.

The Guardian

Dresses are piled on the backs of chairs and strewn across the bed.

The Guardian - Music

We tussled silently back and forth across the bed until we were both panting for breath...

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement, use "across the bed" to clearly indicate a direction from one side to the other. For example, "She slid "across the bed" to reach the phone."

Common error

Avoid using "on the bed" or "over the bed" when you specifically mean something is moving or positioned from one side of the bed to the other. "On the bed" simply indicates a surface, while "over the bed" suggests something is above it. Use "across the bed" to clearly communicate lateral movement or placement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the bed" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate direction or location. Ludwig's examples showcase it describing movement (sliding, reaching) or positioning (lying, sprawling) relative to the bed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "across the bed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that effectively describes movement or placement from one side of a bed to the other. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to provide spatial context, commonly found in news articles, scientific publications and wiki sources. While alternatives like "on the bed" or "over the bed" exist, "across the bed" is uniquely suited for indicating a lateral direction. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is generally accepted and versatile across different writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the bed

Indicates a general position upon the bed's surface, lacking the directional nuance of "across".

spanning the bed

Emphasizes the act of covering or extending over the entire bed surface.

atop the bed

Similar to "on the bed" but may suggest a higher position or being placed carefully.

over the bed

Suggests something is positioned above the bed, rather than spanning its width.

transverse to the bed

More formal, indicating something is positioned perpendicular to the bed's length.

lying on the bed

Specifies someone is in a reclining position on the bed.

perpendicular to the bed

Similar to "transverse", denoting a right-angle orientation relative to the bed.

stretched out on the bed

Implies someone is fully extended on the bed, covering a large area.

along the bed

Indicates something is positioned lengthwise in relation to the bed.

reaching for the bed

Indicates movement towards the bed, often to grab something.

FAQs

How can I use "across the bed" in a sentence?

You can use "across the bed" to describe movement or placement, such as "The cat stretched "across the bed"" or "She tossed her bag "across the bed"".

What are some alternatives to saying "across the bed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "on the bed", "over the bed" or "spanning the bed". The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "over the bed" instead of "across the bed"?

While "over the bed" is grammatically correct, it implies being positioned above the bed rather than spanning its width. "Across the bed" indicates movement or position from one side to the other.

What's the difference between "lying on the bed" and "lying across the bed"?

"Lying on the bed" simply states that someone is in a reclining position on the bed. "Lying "across the bed"" specifies that they are lying in a way that spans the bed from one side to the other, often diagonally.