board a ship

USAGE SUMMARY

"board a ship" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to get on or enter a ship. Example: The passengers were asked to board the ship at the designated time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Placed on board a ship, clocks became even more unreliable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cuban customs officials, seeing Alberto's American passport, threatened not to let him board a ship.

The New Yorker

It's perhaps not instantly apparent that it's on board a ship.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One day, at Hull, Crusoe saw one of his companions board a ship bound for London.

The Guardian

Imagine that you are presenting your findings on board a ship.

The New York Times

Working as a caterer on board a ship that was taking part in a recreation of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the nineteen-twenties, sneaking on board a ship became a way for young people to go viral.

The New Yorker

In the original, Manon is taken on board a ship to be deported from France to America.

The Guardian - Music

Given the increase in attacks in recent years, would you be willing to board a ship sailing near the East African Coast?

The New York Times

In a strait between Scotland's Inner and Outer Hebrides, blue mermen sometimes rise from the sea, board a ship, and shout out a line of verse.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Aldridge managed to board a ship to England but initially encountered the same sort of racist treatment.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "board a ship" when describing the act of getting onto a vessel for travel or work. For a more formal tone, consider using "embark on a ship".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions with "board". It's "board a ship", not "board on a ship" or "board to a ship".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "board a ship" functions primarily as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used, indicating its established role in the English language. Examples provided through Ludwig showcases its function to describe the action of entering a ship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

14%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "board a ship" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of entering a ship. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears frequently in diverse contexts, especially in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, you may want to use a more formal alternative like "embark on a ship" in certain situations. Remember to avoid common errors like using incorrect prepositions such as "on" or "to" after "board". The phrase's high frequency and consistent usage across authoritative sources underscore its validity and reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

embark on a ship

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the beginning of a journey.

get on a ship

This alternative is less formal and more direct.

go aboard a ship

This alternative focuses on the action of going onto the ship.

enter a ship

This alternative is a general term for going inside a ship.

step onto a ship

This alternative emphasizes the physical action of stepping onto the ship.

ascend a ship

This alternative is more formal and suggests climbing up to the ship.

climb aboard a ship

This alternative suggests a more difficult or active way of getting on the ship.

mount a ship

This alternative is less common and may imply a larger or more significant ship.

set foot on a ship

This alternative emphasizes the act of starting a journey by ship.

access a ship

This alternative focuses on the ability to enter the ship.

FAQs

How do you use "board a ship" in a sentence?

You can use "board a ship" to describe the action of getting onto a ship, for example: "The passengers were ready to "board a ship" for their cruise."

What is a more formal alternative to "board a ship"?

A more formal alternative to "board a ship" is "embark on a ship". This phrase is often used in official announcements or written contexts.

Is it grammatically correct to say "board on a ship"?

No, it is not grammatically correct to say "board on a ship". The correct phrasing is ""board a ship"".

What's the difference between "board a ship" and "get on a ship"?

While both phrases mean to enter a ship, ""board a ship"" is slightly more formal. "Get on a ship" is more casual and commonly used in everyday conversation.