around the boundary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around the boundary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is located or occurring near or in the vicinity of a boundary. Example: "The wildlife conservation area is designed to protect species that live around the boundary of the national park."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tour follows one such pathway around the boundary of a five-acre field once inhabited by a Neolithic family.

The New York Times - Travel

Add in the little kids mucking around with bats and balls around the boundary, and there must be 50 children, all playing cricket at once.

The Guardian - Sport

Just ask Hoggard skulking around the boundary rope after he etched his name into the cricketing annuls for all the wrong reasons.

The Guardian - Sport

Maybe England will get their support staff around the boundary a bit more, talking to bowlers at fine leg, gingering people up a bit.

The Guardian - Sport

Shota Utiashvili, a spokesman for Georgia's Interior Ministry, said there was no firing from Georgia on Saturday and characterized the situation around the boundary as generally calm.

The New York Times

Doherty did beautifully to keep it in from fine leg, haring around the boundary to knock the bouncing ball back before he himself went over the rope, then returning to seize it and throw the stumps down from the boundary.

The Guardian - Sport

There still seems a boyish enthusiasm as he gambols around the boundary, buried in his floppy hat, in order to gather the ball before sending it decorously back to the wicketkeeper.

The Guardian - Sport

A mayoral spokeswoman said that people who move their cars to comply with alternate-side-of-the-street parking regulations would not be charged, and that stepped-up traffic enforcement around the boundary would help prevent cars from idling there.

The New York Times

It consists of a pole arm, or bar, which has a weight at one end, and a tracer arm, the end of which has a point that the operator guides around the boundary of the area in question.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Back then there was a dog track around the boundary and at the end of the day the players would crack open the brews, fire up the Barbie and lose lots of money.

Independent

The object of the game, which is available on any Nokia phone in the 5100 or higher series, is to move the slithering snake toward morsels of food while avoiding the imaginary electric fence that runs around the boundary of the screen.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing spatial relationships, use "around the boundary" to clearly indicate a location or activity occurring in the immediate area of a defined limit, rather than precisely on it.

Common error

Avoid using "around the boundary" when you mean something is precisely on the boundary itself. "Around" suggests proximity, not direct contact or intersection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around the boundary" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate location or spatial relationship. It specifies that something is situated near or encircling the defined edge of an area or object, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "around the boundary" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate proximity to a defined edge or limit. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, particularly in science and news. While generally neutral in register, more precise language may be suitable for highly technical contexts. Be careful not to confuse "around" with "on", as "around" suggests proximity rather than direct contact. When looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "near the perimeter" or "in the vicinity of the border".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near the perimeter

Replaces "boundary" with "perimeter", focusing on the outer edge of an area.

in the vicinity of the border

Substitutes "boundary" with "border", indicating a surrounding area.

adjacent to the borderline

Uses "borderline" instead of "boundary", highlighting a line of demarcation.

in close proximity to the edge

Emphasizes closeness and replaces "boundary" with "edge".

surrounding the confines

Replaces "boundary" with "confines", suggesting the limits or borders of something.

on the fringes of the limit

Uses "fringes" to denote the outer parts and "limit" for "boundary".

alongside the demarcation line

Highlights the presence of a clear dividing line with "demarcation line".

bordering the edge

Uses "bordering" as a verb to describe the act of being adjacent to an edge.

at the periphery of the area

Emphasizes the outer limits of a defined space using "periphery".

circumscribing the zone

Implies drawing or defining a limit around a specific area with "circumscribing".

FAQs

How can I use "around the boundary" in a sentence?

Use "around the boundary" to describe something that is near or encircling a defined edge or limit. For example, "Security patrols "around the boundary" to prevent unauthorized access."

What's a good alternative to "around the boundary"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "near the perimeter", "in the vicinity of the border", or "adjacent to the borderline". Each emphasizes a slightly different spatial relationship.

Is it more accurate to say "on the boundary" or "around the boundary"?

"On the boundary" implies something is located directly on the line or edge, while "around the boundary" suggests proximity, not necessarily direct contact. The correct phrase depends on the precise spatial relationship you want to convey.

In technical writing, is "around the boundary" considered formal?

While "around the boundary" is acceptable in many contexts, more precise language might be preferred in highly technical writing. Consider alternatives like "at the periphery of the area" or "adjacent to the border" for increased clarity.