across the canvas

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across the canvas" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or movement that extends from one side of a canvas (or any flat surface) to the other. Example: The artist's brush glided across the canvas, leaving behind streaks of vibrant color.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He never had more than one vertical and one horizontal going across the canvas.

Independent

Silvery blue reflections of the empty egg glimmered across the canvas like mercury.

The New York Times - Magazine

The elderly artists began slowly walking across the canvas, pointing, their voices rising with excitement.

The New Yorker

I turned and saw that he had changed the flow of fabric across the canvas.

The New Yorker

Mr. Brainwash's signature phrase, "Life Is Beautiful," explodes across the canvas.

The New York Times

The concerto exhibited a spontaneity and vibrance that echoed Hambling's freedom across the canvas.

The Guardian - Music

But this time, it's happening at high velocity and across the canvas of all humanity.

The Guardian

His major technique is to put friezes of cookie-cutter-like figures across the canvas.

The New York Times

"The horizon line runs across the canvas at the eye level of the viewer.

The New York Times

The slashes of rain cutting diagonally across the canvas suggest the desperation of his mindset.

The Guardian - Arts

"I see eyelashes," she said, peering at the crescent shapes floating across the canvas.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across the canvas" to vividly describe movement, distribution, or extension within a visual or artistic context. For example, 'The artist spread the paint thinly "across the canvas" to create a sense of depth.'

Common error

Avoid using "across the canvas" when describing non-visual or non-artistic contexts where spatial relationships are irrelevant. For example, it would be incorrect to say 'The news spread "across the canvas" of the internet,' as canvas implies a visual medium.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the canvas" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the direction or extent of an action in relation to the canvas. Ludwig examples illustrate the phrase being used to describe movement, distribution, or application of elements on a canvas.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across the canvas" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase, predominantly used in news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, highlighting its role in providing spatial context, particularly within art-related descriptions. Analysis reveals a neutral register, fitting various descriptive scenarios. It is commonly found in reliable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker. Although interchangeable with alternatives like "on the canvas", "over the canvas", or "throughout the canvas", the specific use of "across" emphasizes motion or distribution, enriching the descriptive texture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the canvas

Focuses on the surface itself, rather than movement or extent.

over the canvas

Emphasizes covering or extending over the surface.

throughout the canvas

Highlights distribution across the entire area.

upon the canvas

Formal synonym for "on the canvas", emphasizing placement.

spanning the canvas

Highlights the extent to which something covers the area.

covering the canvas

Focuses on the act of covering, whether partially or completely.

stretching across the canvas

Emphasizes the act of extending or reaching across.

permeating the canvas

Suggests a deeper saturation or penetration of the surface.

displayed on the canvas

Focuses on the visual presentation upon the surface.

painted on the canvas

Specifically refers to the application of paint to the surface.

FAQs

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

You can use "across the canvas" to describe how elements are distributed or move within a painting or artwork. For example, "Bold strokes of red paint slashed "across the canvas", creating a sense of urgency."

What is an alternative to using "across the canvas"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "on the canvas", "over the canvas", or "throughout the canvas" to convey similar spatial relationships within the artwork.

Which is correct, "across the canvas" or "on the canvas"?

Both "across the canvas" and "on the canvas" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Across the canvas" implies movement or distribution, while "on the canvas" simply indicates placement.

What's the difference between "across the canvas" and "spanning the canvas"?

"Across the canvas" describes something moving or extending from one side to the other, whereas "spanning the canvas" emphasizes the coverage or extent over the entire surface.