across the border

USAGE SUMMARY

"across the border" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it when referring to someone or something crossing a political or geographical boundary. For example: "The travelers finally made it across the border, exhausted but relieved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's in the Netherlands, across the border.

The New York Times

Probably blew across the border into Jordan.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, refugees were spilling across the border.

The New Yorker

"Across the border, there are 1.3 billion".

The New York Times

"Unlike our brothers across the border".

The New York Times

The problem isn't just across the border.

The New York Times

"The stuff that's taken across the border".

The New Yorker

His continued, right across the border.

The New Yorker

Some have relatives across the border.

The New York Times

You can't get across the border.

The New York Times - Magazine

I pushed off across the border.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across the border" to clearly indicate movement or activity that involves crossing a recognized boundary, whether geographical or political. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "across the border" when referring to abstract or figurative boundaries. This phrase is most effective when describing literal crossings of national or regional borders; using it metaphorically can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the border" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying verbs or nouns to indicate movement or location relative to a boundary. As Ludwig AI states, it refers to someone or something crossing a political or geographical boundary.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across the border" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate movement or location beyond a recognized boundary. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for describing crossings of geographical or political borders. Predominantly found in news and media, its usage spans various contexts, from immigration discussions to international trade reports. Though versatile, it's best reserved for literal boundary crossings to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "beyond the boundary" and "in another country", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts. The high frequency and consistent usage of "across the border" in authoritative sources solidify its place as a reliable and clear expression in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beyond the boundary

Focuses on the spatial relationship of being outside a defined limit.

in another country

Specifies that the location is within a different nation.

on the other side of the frontier

Uses more formal language to indicate the opposite side of a border.

over the line

Implies crossing a literal or figurative line, often in a geographical sense.

into foreign territory

Emphasizes the foreign nature of the land being entered.

outside national limits

Highlights the legal or political aspect of crossing a border.

in neighboring lands

Suggests proximity to another country or region.

transnationally

Describes something that extends or operates across national boundaries.

internationally

Relates to interactions or activities involving multiple nations.

to the other side

Simply indicates movement or location on the opposite side of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "across the border" to describe movement or location beyond a geographical or political boundary, as in "Refugees were fleeing "across the border" into neighboring countries".

What's the difference between "across the border" and "overseas"?

"Across the border" typically refers to crossing a land boundary into another country, while "overseas" implies traveling across an ocean to a foreign land. They are not interchangeable; use "across the border" for adjacent countries and "overseas" for countries separated by an ocean.

Is "across the border" formal or informal?

"Across the border" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall style of the writing.

What are some alternatives to "across the border"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "beyond the boundary", "in another country", or "on the other side of the frontier" to convey a similar meaning as "across the border".