come across something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come across something" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you find or encounter something unexpectedly. Example: "While cleaning the attic, I came across an old photo album." Alternative expressions include "discover something," "find something," and "stumble upon something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

You will always come across something strange or unusual.

The Guardian - Travel

In the course of this work, however, he had come across something intriguing.

The Guardian

But I could well imagine them – and I did come across something mildly spooky.

The Guardian - Books

With a list of tasks to get through, you'll undoubtedly come across something you can't finish.

The Guardian

She'd hoped to come across something personal — a diary, perhaps, or letters — but the desk held nothing of that sort.

The New Yorker

"It's pretty rare to come across something like this," said Alyssa Loorya, the laboratory director at Brooklyn College.

The New York Times

Some days are diamonds and you'll come across something special – something that also resonates with other people.

The Guardian - Arts

The senses signal that you are about to come across something memorable, the scenery acting as a tantalising draw.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And I can't help being emotional when I come across something kind, when I find how warm people can be".

The Guardian - Film

Because of that, when I come across something authentic, even if it's crude, I'm interested in it.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Organisations like ours receive correspondence of every type and it is not uncommon to come across something like this that lacks credibility.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional writing, you can swap this phrase for "encounter something" to increase the level of formality.

Common error

Do not confuse "come across something" (finding an object) with 'come across as' (making an impression). For example, 'He came across a vintage watch' is correct for discovery, while 'He came across as very professional' describes his personality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come across something" functions as an inseparable phrasal verb followed by an indefinite pronoun or noun phrase. As seen in the data provided by Ludwig, it acts as a transitive verb phrase where 'across' is a particle that modifies 'come' to change its meaning from movement to discovery. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and highly usable structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "come across something" is a highly versatile and essential phrase in the English language used to describe the act of unintentional discovery. Data from Ludwig shows it is ubiquitous in high-quality journalism, appearing in outlets such as The Guardian and The New York Times to describe everything from archaeological finds to digital content. Ludwig AI verifies that it is grammatically sound and appropriate for a wide range of audiences. Writers should be careful not to confuse it with 'come across as' and should consider more formal alternatives like "encounter something" when writing for academic purposes. Overall, it remains one of the most natural ways to express finding something by chance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stumble upon something

emphasizes the accidental or lucky nature of the discovery

find something by accident

a literal and direct description of the action

discover something unexpectedly

focuses on the surprise element of the find

encounter something

provides a more formal tone often used in academic or professional reporting

happen upon something

carries a slightly more literary or old-fashioned nuance

chance upon something

highlights that the encounter was purely by chance

run into something

often implies encountering a problem or obstacle rather than a neutral object

spot something

emphasizes the visual act of noticing something

hit on something

usually refers to discovering a specific idea, solution or truth

come up against something

specifically used for encountering difficulties or opposition

FAQs

How do I use "come across something" in a sentence?

You can use it whenever you find something without looking for it. For example: "While browsing the library, I "come across something" that looked like a rare manuscript."

What can I say instead of "come across something"?

You can use synonyms like "stumble upon something", ""encounter something"", or "happen upon something" depending on how formal you want to be.

Is "come across something" considered formal English?

It is neutral and widely accepted in most writing. However, for strictly academic or technical papers, ""encounter something"" or "observe something" might be preferred.

What's the difference between "come across something" and "find something"?

The main difference is intent. "find something" can be the result of a deliberate search, whereas "come across something" almost always implies the discovery was unplanned.