clues across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clues across" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the context of puzzles, particularly crossword puzzles, where clues are provided for words that are arranged horizontally. Example: "The crossword puzzle was challenging, but I managed to fill in all the clues across by the end of the evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In this scavenger hunt and tour for families with children ages 6 to 13, participants will follow clues across the 300-acre yard, looking for industrial cranes, street lamps powered by the wind and sun, and many other innovative features.

The New York Times - Arts

They were also looking for other clues across a wide area of the pursuit, which stretched for more than half a mile.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Clue 29-Across.

The New York Times - Magazine

In each of the answers to across clues, one letter occurring as part of a consecutive pair of identical letters must be omitted in the diagram.

The Guardian

There are eight biographical subjects referred to in the clues, five across and three down, including the momentous (Willie Mays, Archimedes), the mysterious (Amelia Earhart) and the marble (Venus de Milo).

The New York Times

The Mousetrap: as the snow piles up around the isolated guesthouse in The Mousetrap at the Ambassadors Theatre, the false clues drift across the stage, deluding the less alert in the audience and appearing to deceive characters in the play who ought to know better.

The Guardian

As the snow piles up around the isolated guest-house in "The Mousetrap," at the Ambassadors Theatre, the false clues drift across the stage, deluding the less alert in the audience and appearing to deceive characters in the play who ought to know better.

The Guardian

Over the weekend and into Monday, cities across the world were hit by mysterious street tagging, blimp flyovers and a serious of clues scattered across the deep web, unearthing the name and supposed tracklist of the new LP.

Vice

To make sure your message gets across, give clues to where the information that matters to the reader resides.

Harvard Business Review

W Stephen Gilbert Corsham, Wiltshire Today's quick crossword clue, 1 across: "Beyond words".

The Guardian

And just as he requested, he is a down clue, not across, although not, as he hoped, as 38-Down, which would have corresponded with his uniform number.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "clues across" to describe a search or investigation, ensure the context clearly indicates a wide area or range being examined. For example, "Detectives followed the "clues across" several states".

Common error

Avoid using "clues across" when the clues are localized or confined to a single point. It implies a widespread distribution, so a more specific term like "clues at the scene" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clues across" functions as a noun phrase followed by a preposition, indicating the distribution or extent of the clues. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is valid and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clues across" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that evidence or hints are distributed over an area. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English and while the phrase is not very frequent it is suitable for neutral contexts like news reporting. When considering alternatives, "hints throughout" and "indications spanning" offer similar meanings. Remember to use "clues across" when the context involves a wide range and avoid it when referring to localized clues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hints throughout

Replaces "clues" with "hints" and "across" with "throughout", suggesting a similar but less direct indication.

indications spanning

Substitutes "clues" for "indications" and "across" with "spanning", implying a wider reach of the evidence.

evidence throughout

Replaces "clues" with "evidence" and "across" with "throughout", suggesting more concrete proof distributed in a region.

leads scattered throughout

Replaces "clues" with "leads" and uses "scattered throughout" instead of "across", giving a sense of dispersal.

signs over

Replaces "clues" with "signs" and "across" with "over", implying less explicit discoveries.

trails all over

Replaces "clues" with "trails" and "across" with "all over", conveying movement or pursuit in many locations.

guides distributed throughout

Replaces "clues" with "guides" and "across" with "distributed throughout", changing to directions.

indices distributed throughout

Replaces "clues" with "indices" and "across" with "distributed throughout", emphasizing their placement.

proofs spanned across

Swaps "clues" for "proofs" and adjusts the verb, to show proof of occurance

hints diffused throughout

Swaps "clues" for "hints" to reduce the importance, and "across" with diffused throughout

FAQs

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

Use "clues across" to suggest that evidence is scattered or spread over an area. For example, "The investigators followed the "clues across" multiple crime scenes".

What are some alternatives to "clues across"?

Consider using phrases like "hints throughout", "indications spanning", or "evidence throughout" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "clues across" formal or informal?

The phrase "clues across" is suitable for neutral contexts, such as news reporting or general descriptive writing. More formal or informal alternatives might exist depending on the specific context.

What does "clues across" imply about the investigation?

It suggests the investigation involves a wide area or range of elements, rather than being confined to a single location or item.