at its border

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at its border" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a location or situation that is situated at the edge or boundary of something, such as a country, region, or area. Example: "The village is located at its border with the national park, providing residents with stunning views of the natural landscape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

No 10 then argued that that EU had only ruled out collecting UK duties and tariffs at its border, and it would be necessary to have other reciprocal financial systems with the EU to refund businesses in the event that there were differing customs arrangements between Britain and the 27-country bloc.

The Guardian

At its border with Assam it is joined by the Dibang and the Lohit, and from that point, turning west, the river is known as the Brahmaputra.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The concerns raised over the passport-free zone came as Denmark announced it would introduce controls at its border with Germany just hours after neighbouring Sweden introduced similar measures.

Independent

Central and Eastern European countries have strongly opposed it, led by Hungary and its building a wall at its border with Serbia in order to control human flow.

Huffington Post

But they say it could make sense for Egypt to help control access at its border with Gaza and for the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank and is Hamas' political rival, to have a role as well.

Los Angeles Times

Egypt has also limited what can cross in and out of Gaza at its border.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

British and French governments should promote a European army with real capacity, able to defend European security at its borders whenever it is threatened.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yudin and colleagues (1989) reported that the cervical mucus architecture is more compact at its borders making it more challenging for the sperm (Yudin et al., 1989).

Human Reproduction Update

On Thursday, Denmark provoked criticism and possible legal proceedings when it said it would reintroduce controls at its borders with Germany and Sweden, warning of crime spilling across.

The New York Times

But today Russia has neighbors that have such missiles directed at its borders; for understandable reasons, it wants to renegotiate aspects of this treaty.

The New York Times

Denmark said it planned to restart passport checks at its borders, and the refugees fleeing unrest in North Africa set off a dispute between France and Italy this year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a country or region's relationship with neighboring areas, use "at its border" to clearly indicate a location or activity occurring at the edge of that area. For example: "Increased security measures were implemented "at its border" to prevent illegal crossings."

Common error

Avoid using "at its border" when the intended meaning is "within" or "throughout". The phrase specifies a location on the edge, not an action permeating the entity. For example, instead of saying "Corruption was rampant at its border", consider "Corruption was rampant within the agency responsible for border control".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at its border" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of location, modifying a verb or clause by specifying where an action or state occurs. Ludwig showcases this function across numerous examples, indicating its common role in providing spatial context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at its border" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify a location on or near the edge of a defined area. As indicated by Ludwig, it frequently appears in news and media, as well as scientific and business contexts, denoting its versatility. The phrase functions as an adverbial of location, providing essential spatial context. While alternatives like "at its edge" or "at its boundary" exist, "at its border" remains a clear and widely understood choice for describing boundary proximity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and widely applicable, ensuring its reliability in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at its edge

Replaces "border" with "edge", focusing on the extremity of a surface or area.

at its boundary

Uses "boundary" instead of "border", emphasizing the line that marks the limit of an area.

at its frontier

Substitutes "border" with "frontier", suggesting a less defined or more contested boundary.

on its periphery

Employs "periphery", focusing on the outer limits or edges of something.

along its border

Adds "along", focusing on the continuous aspect of the border.

at its limit

Replaces "border" with "limit", indicating the maximum extent or boundary.

at its rim

Uses "rim" instead of "border", emphasizing the outer edge of a circular or curved object.

at its outermost point

Specifies "outermost point", emphasizing the furthest extent of an area or object.

at its demarcation line

Substitutes "border" with "demarcation line", suggesting a clearly defined and possibly contested boundary.

at its confines

Replaces "border" with "confines", focusing on the limits or boundaries that enclose an area.

FAQs

How can I use "at its border" in a sentence?

Use "at its border" to specify a location or activity happening directly on the edge or boundary of something. For example, "The customs checkpoint is located "at its border" with the neighboring country".

What are some alternatives to "at its border"?

You can use phrases like "at its edge", "at its boundary", or "along its border" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "at its border" and "at its borders"?

"At its border" refers to a single border point or general edge, while "at its borders" refers to multiple border locations or the entire boundary area of a region or country.

When is it more appropriate to use "on its border" instead of "at its border"?

While both are generally interchangeable, "on its border" can be more appropriate when referring to something physically situated on the boundary line, while "at its border" is broader and can refer to activities or locations in the immediate vicinity. For example, a town can be both "on its border" or "at its border" depending on if it straddles the dividing line or merely stands close to it.