are flanked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are flanked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is bordered or surrounded on either side by something else. Example: "The castle walls are flanked by tall towers that provide a strategic vantage point."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Portions of North Maluku are flanked by very deep seas.

Britannica

Google and Microsoft are flanked by other big efforts.

The New Yorker

Wide, tree-lined boulevards are flanked by ochre villas.

The Guardian - Travel

Narrow dirt streets are flanked tightly by high adobe walls.

The New York Times - Travel

The two microphones are flanked by large men.

The Economist

They are flanked by their respective major professors, Jim Ingle (left) and Jere Lipps (right).

University of California, Berkeley

The streets of the city are flanked by towering houses five to nine stories high.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Retroviruses and many retrotransposons are flanked by sequence repeats called long terminal repeats (LTRs).

Virology

The central grass panels are flanked by other lawns shaded by American elm trees.

The Washington Post

The lava escarpments are flanked by drift-covered hills and river valleys with wide deltaic terraces.

Britannica

The pools are flanked by low buildings that appear visually irrelevant to the memorial task.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are flanked", ensure that the elements on either side genuinely enhance or define the central subject, not just occupy space.

Common error

Avoid using "are flanked" when the elements are not truly positioned on either side of the subject. Ensure a clear understanding of left and right to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are flanked" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is acted upon by something that borders it on either side. As Ludwig shows, it often describes architectural features, geographical elements, or even genetic sequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are flanked" is a versatile passive verb phrase used to describe something that is bordered on both sides. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in descriptive writing across various fields such as science, news, and academia. While alternatives like "are bordered by" or "are surrounded by" exist, "are flanked" provides a slightly more formal and precise way to express this spatial relationship. When using this phrase, ensure that the elements on either side truly enhance or define the central subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are bordered by

Replaces "flanked" with a more common synonym, focusing on the bordering aspect.

are surrounded by

Emphasizes enclosure rather than a side-by-side arrangement.

are accompanied by

Shifts the focus to accompaniment, suggesting a more active relationship.

have on either side

A more descriptive and less formal way of expressing the same idea.

are positioned alongside

Highlights the positioning aspect, suggesting a deliberate placement.

are set off by

Implies that the flanking elements serve to highlight or distinguish the central element.

are guarded by

Suggests a protective function of the flanking elements.

are shielded by

Emphasizes the protective aspect of the flanking elements even further.

are lined with

Suggests a linear arrangement of the flanking elements.

have adjacent to them

A more wordy but still accurate way of conveying the concept of flanking.

FAQs

How to use "are flanked" in a sentence?

Use "are flanked" to describe something that is bordered or surrounded on both sides by something else. For example, "The entrance "is flanked by" two statues."

What can I say instead of "are flanked"?

You can use alternatives like "are bordered by", "are surrounded by", or "are accompanied by" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "are flanked by" or "is flanked by"?

"Are flanked by" is used when the subject is plural, while "is flanked by" is used when the subject is singular. For example, "The buildings are flanked by trees" versus "The building is flanked by trees".

What's the difference between "are flanked by" and "are adjacent to"?

"Are flanked by" implies something is on both sides, whereas "are adjacent to" simply means something is next to something else, without specifying both sides.