contiguous to

USAGE SUMMARY

'contiguous to' is correct and usable in written English.
'Contiguous to' is used to describe two or more things that are next to each other or connected. For example, "The two countries are contiguous to each other, sharing a common border."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The cinematic experience became understood as psychologically contiguous to voyeurism.

The Guardian - Film

"Just because it's contiguous to a parkland doesn't make it an environmentally sensitive property".

The New York Times

America's heartland, he said, turns out to be politically contiguous to its notoriously liberal coasts.

The New York Times

There must be some other world, unimaginably fraught and violent, contiguous to ours but not normally permeable.

The New Yorker

His acrid clarity stakes out its own sector of the national character, contiguous to the fudge zone.

The New York Times - Books

The houses Goodspeed will sell are contiguous to the redevelopment site.

The New York Times

The Revolutionary Guard gets on with coalition forces that control the areas contiguous to Iran.

The Economist

Human beings occupy Jambudvipa, the second continent contiguous to it, and half of the third.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They have made a building contiguous to two residential buildings ground zero for a terrorist attack," said ELIZABETH HEMMERDINGER, a restaurant owner.

The New York Times

An idyllic place to buy is within the Neptune Park Beach Association, where residents share four private beaches along a winding seawall that is contiguous to Ocean Beach.

The New York Times - Travel

One of the many progeny of Jewel Bako, Degustation is actually contiguous to it, a 16-seat, U-shaped counter wrapping around an open kitchen.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contiguous to" when you need to emphasize a direct, touching border or connection between two things, especially in technical, geographical, or formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "contiguous to" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "next to" or "nearby" are often more appropriate and sound less stilted.

Linguistic Context

"Contiguous to" functions as a prepositional phrase that describes the spatial relationship between two entities. It specifies that these entities share a boundary or are directly adjacent to each other. This is supported by Ludwig and its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contiguous to" is a prepositional phrase used to describe a direct, touching border or connection between two entities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It is most commonly found in formal writing, such as news, science, and encyclopedias. While it provides a precise way to describe spatial relationships, it is best to avoid it in informal contexts, where simpler alternatives like "next to" or "nearby" are more appropriate. The phrase is frequently used in authoritative sources like The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica, indicating its reliability and acceptance in formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adjacent to

Refers to being next to something; slightly more formal and emphasizes nearness.

adjoining to

Similar to adjacent but may imply a more direct connection or sharing of a boundary.

next to

A simpler and more common way to express nearness without the formality of "contiguous".

bordering on

Indicates a shared border and is often used geographically or metaphorically.

abutting

Implies physical touching or bordering, often used in legal or technical contexts.

in contact with

Describes direct physical interaction or connection.

in proximity to

A more formal way of saying 'near to' or 'close to', indicating nearness in space or time.

in the vicinity of

Similar to 'in proximity to', suggesting a general area rather than direct connection.

neighboring

Suggests a relationship similar to that between neighbors, implying closeness.

sharing a boundary with

Explicitly states that two things have a common edge or border.

FAQs

How to use "contiguous to" in a sentence?

Use "contiguous to" to indicate that two things share a common boundary or are directly adjacent. For instance, "The park is contiguous to the residential area."

What can I say instead of "contiguous to"?

You can use alternatives like "adjacent to", "next to", or "bordering on" depending on the context.

Is "contiguous to" formal or informal?

"Contiguous to" is generally considered a formal phrase. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "next to" or "near" are more appropriate.

What's the difference between "contiguous to" and "adjacent to"?

While both indicate nearness, "contiguous to" implies that the items are touching or sharing a boundary. "Adjacent to" ("adjacent to") simply means nearby but not necessarily touching.