across the roof

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "across the roof" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe movement or position over the surface of a roof, often in a literal or figurative sense. Example: "The cat jumped across the roof to reach the neighboring house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Another swipe and wind flow-lines pulsate across the roof.

The Guardian - Arts

Two men seemed to be hidden underneath an area across the roof.

The New York Times

At Christmas, N. C. played Old Kriss, stomping across the roof and yelling at the reindeer.

The New York Times - Travel

And they come by military truck convoy, lumbering across the roof of the world.

The New York Times

He saw nothing; I heard nothing when the first rounds started skipping across the roof.

The New York Times

Cats padded across the roof, each step pregnant with anticipated conflict.

The Guardian - Travel

"I can just crawl across the roof and go right in my window," Mr. Hinz said.

The New York Times - Style

It is a composition of black boxes, arrayed across the roof like a sculptural relief.

The New York Times - Arts

This vast journey – "veritably across the roof of the world", says the guide – took four days.

The Guardian - Travel

– The House of Silk Statues lined the stairs and stood, dotted across the roof.

The Guardian

Above, pigeons hop across the roof, which sounds as if it is made of tin.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement or action, ensure the context clearly indicates whether the subject is moving on the roof's surface or merely passing above it. For example, "The cat walked "across the roof"" implies physical contact, while "The plane flew "across the roof"" implies it was overhead.

Common error

Avoid using "across the roof" when "on the roof" is more appropriate to describe a static position. "The antenna is "on the roof"" is more accurate than "The antenna is "across the roof"", unless the antenna spans the roof's width.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the roof" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate movement, extension, or location on the surface of a roof. It specifies direction or extent, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "across the roof" is a versatile prepositional phrase, typically used to describe movement or coverage on a roof's surface. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "on the rooftop" or "over the roof" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to use "across the roof" when describing motion or extension, and "on the roof" for static positions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the rooftop

Focuses specifically on the flat area of a roof.

over the roof

Indicates movement above and beyond the roof's surface.

along the roof

Suggests movement parallel to an edge or feature of the roof.

on top of the roof

Emphasizes the position being directly on the roof's surface.

covering the roof

Suggests something is spread over the entire roof.

traversing the roof

Implies a journey or passage across the roof.

extending over the roof

Focuses on the projection of something over the roof's edge.

spanning the roof

Highlights something that stretches from one side of the roof to the other.

above the roof

Indicates a position higher than the roof, not necessarily on it.

reaching the roof

Implies that something is reaching the roof, but not necessarily located there.

FAQs

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

Use "across the roof" to describe movement or extension over the surface of a roof. For example, "The workers laid the tarps "across the roof"" to protect it from the rain.

What are some alternatives to "across the roof"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "on the rooftop", "over the roof", or "along the roof".

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

While both can be used, "across the roof" generally implies movement or coverage on the roof's surface, whereas "over the roof" suggests being above it.

What is the difference between "across the roof" and "on the roof"?

"Across the roof" typically suggests motion or extension from one side to another, while "on the roof" usually indicates a static position.