bottom of the steps

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bottom of the steps" is correct and usable in written English.
Example sentence: I walked down the steps to the bottom of the steps where I found an old coin.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The water is lapping the bottom of the steps.

The New Yorker

She was found dying at the bottom of the steps by a local man, Thomas Brown.

The Guardian

She stops at the bottom of the steps leading up to the big green house and waits for an answer.

The New Yorker

At the bottom of the steps, she found herself in a long, narrow room with a dirt floor.

The New Yorker

At the bottom of the steps down from this is the Foras, a tradition al meze place.

The Guardian - Travel

A horse carriage and a cab were double-parked at the bottom of the steps going down to the street.

The New Yorker

A small crowd of protesters gathered at the bottom of the steps of Lobby 7 Tuesday afternoon.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

First he saw the head of a man at the bottom of the steps with blood coming from his face.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

We saw kids coming down the steps and I was able to drive to the bottom of the main steps [and] my wife jumped out of the car to find our daughter Charlotte and her friend Gemma.

BBC

The pillows were still at the bottom of the basement steps, floating in muck.

The New York Times - Sports

At the bottom of the courthouse steps, I turned right, stumbled on some uneven pavement and broke my wrist.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene, use "bottom of the steps" to clearly indicate a position or location relative to a staircase or set of steps.

Common error

Avoid using "foot of the stairs" interchangeably with "bottom of the steps" in all contexts. While similar, "foot of the stairs" can sometimes imply a decorative element or a more figurative placement rather than the literal base.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bottom of the steps" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, typically acting as an adverbial modifier to indicate location or position. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and its usage is well-supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bottom of the steps" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase primarily used to indicate a location at the base of a staircase. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage is widespread across various contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. While alternatives such as "foot of the stairs" or "base of the stairway" exist, the phrase maintains a neutral register and effectively serves to provide clear spatial orientation. When writing, be mindful to use it to pinpoint a location or describe where an action occurs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foot of the staircase

Replaces "steps" with "staircase", maintaining the same location reference.

base of the stairway

Uses "base" instead of "bottom" and "stairway" for "steps", slightly more formal.

end of the staircase

Focuses on the end point of the staircase instead of the bottom.

lower part of the steps

More descriptive, specifying the lower section of the steps.

ground level of the steps

Emphasizes the ground level or starting point of the steps.

at the step's base

Emphasizes the location relative to the base of a single step or set of steps.

at the foot of the flight

Substitutes "flight" for a set of steps, providing a slightly more descriptive image.

near the lowest step

Focuses on proximity to the lowest step rather than the absolute bottom.

downstairs landing

Describes the area immediately after descending the steps, particularly indoors.

bottom of the ladder

Uses a different, yet similar, structure (ladder) to represent a vertical climb.

FAQs

How can I use "bottom of the steps" in a sentence?

You can use "bottom of the steps" to describe a location, such as: "I found my keys at the "bottom of the steps"."

What is the difference between "bottom of the steps" and "foot of the stairs"?

While similar, "foot of the stairs" can sometimes imply a decorative element or a more figurative placement, whereas "bottom of the steps" refers more directly to the physical base of the staircase.

Are there any formal alternatives to "bottom of the steps"?

Yes, you could use "base of the stairway" as a slightly more formal alternative to "bottom of the steps".

Is it ever incorrect to use "bottom of the steps"?

No, it's generally considered correct and usable in most contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase "bottom of the steps" is grammatically sound.