came across

USAGE SUMMARY

"came across" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it when you are referring to the action of encountering someone or something by chance. For example: "I came across my childhood friend while shopping at the mall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He came across like an everyday guy".

Los Angeles Times

But he came across well.

Los Angeles Times

They came across great.

The New Yorker

Gains came across the market.

The New York Times

I came across this pub.

Independent

Derek came across the street.

The New Yorker

It really came across".

The Guardian

Came across so patrician.

The New Yorker

Like who came across?

The Guardian - Books

Who came across as more presidential?

The New York Times

It came across as blunt and ungrateful.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an impression, use "came across as" followed by an adjective. For example, "He came across as confident during the interview."

Common error

Avoid using "came across" when the meeting or finding was intentional. Instead of saying "I came across my friend at the planned meeting", use "I met my friend at the planned meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came across" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. It signifies the act of encountering something or someone unexpectedly. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard expression, found in numerous contexts, from stumbling upon an old photo to unexpectedly meeting a friend.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "came across" is a common and versatile expression used to describe unplanned encounters or discoveries. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in English. It primarily functions to convey the unexpected nature of an event. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, as well as scientific and formal business publications. When writing, remember that "came across" should only be used when the encounter or finding was unintentional; otherwise, consider alternatives like "found" or "met". Common alternatives include "stumbled upon", "happened to find", and "ran into". For describing an impression, alternatives such as "came off as" or "appeared to be" can be used. By keeping these nuances in mind, you can effectively use "came across" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stumbled upon

Implies a more accidental or haphazard discovery.

happened to find

Emphasizes the element of chance in the discovery.

chanced upon

Similar to 'stumbled upon', highlighting the unexpected nature of the encounter.

ran into

Specifically refers to encountering a person unexpectedly.

met unexpectedly

More directly states the surprise nature of meeting someone.

gave the impression

Shifts the meaning to expressing how someone or something appeared.

appeared to be

Focuses on the perceived characteristics or state of something.

came off as

Indicates how someone was perceived by others.

presented itself as

Describes how something revealed itself, possibly deceptively.

was perceived as

Highlights the reception or understanding of something or someone by others.

FAQs

How can I use "came across" in a sentence?

Use "came across" to describe unexpectedly finding something or meeting someone. For example, "I "came across" an interesting article while researching."

What's the difference between "came across" and "found"?

"Came across" implies an accidental discovery, while "found" can refer to both accidental and intentional discoveries. For example, "I found my keys" doesn't specify if the search was intentional, but "I "came across" my keys while cleaning" suggests it was unplanned.

What can I say instead of "came across" when referring to an impression?

When referring to the impression someone gives, you can use alternatives such as "came off as", "appeared to be", or "was perceived as".

Is it correct to say "I came across with a solution"?

No, the correct phrasing is "I came up with a solution". "Came across" is used for unexpected findings or meetings, not for creating or inventing something.