crisscrossing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crisscrossing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that moves back and forth or intersects in a pattern, often used in contexts like paths, lines, or ideas. Example: "The roads in the city are crisscrossing, making navigation quite challenging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its presence today within Britain's arterial watercourses, crisscrossing county boundaries, between town and country, makes this powerhouse of a bird a force to bring us closer together".

The Guardian

By the time Gaddafi was killed in Sirte last October, he had gone underground, crisscrossing the desert by armed convoy with an escort of loyal Tuareg fighters from Niger.

The Guardian

We are crisscrossing the old cobblestone streets of San Telmo, the colonial district of the capital, Buenos Aires.

The Guardian

But 15 years after entering the Bundestag the Greens were in government and their leader, Joschka Fischer, was crisscrossing the globe as foreign minister and vice-chancellor proof that rebels can become rulers.

The Economist

"The old man", as he calls himself, might have grown more prickly with age, but he still has the charm of the great salesman he once was, crisscrossing America with his pioneering sound systems.

The Economist

"Wisconsin has long been considered a collective of liberal college communities connected by interstates crisscrossing the farmland", Ms Moore writes.

The Economist

Crisscrossing the country on planes, trains, automobiles, and buses, Nixon and Kennedy were speaking, shaking hands, and conferring with politicians from coast to coast for most of September, for all of October, and for the seven days of November preceding the election.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As a young man, he held a number of jobs with the railroad, including those of baggage master, flagman, and brakeman, crisscrossing the Southwest but especially working the line between New Orleans and Meridian, Mississippi.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The determining factor in this metamorphosis has been incessant population pressure, which caused a building boom and the development of an ever-widening network of streets, avenues, and roads crisscrossing the countryside and urbanizing the neighbouring villages.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By crisscrossing the logs, the builders allowed water to pass through the piers, offering less resistance to floods than with a solid design.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In a way, Brown was a wandering scholar, a basketball nomad, crisscrossing the landscape of the sport to dispense wisdom and push players.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crisscrossing" to vividly describe movement across an area or the creation of a complex pattern. It's especially effective when implying repeated or irregular crossings.

Common error

Avoid using "crisscrossing" when a simpler word like "crossing" suffices. "Crisscrossing" implies complexity or repetition, so reserve it for situations where that nuance is relevant.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "crisscrossing" is that of a present participle, acting as a verb in continuous tenses or as an adjective modifying a noun. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing the action of moving repeatedly across an area.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Crisscrossing" is a versatile term, commonly used to describe movement across an area involving multiple intersections. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and encyclopedia sources. While "intersecting repeatedly", "crossing and recrossing", and "interweaving" can serve as alternatives, "crisscrossing" provides a vivid and concise way to convey complex movements or patterns. When using "crisscrossing", be mindful of the context, reserving it for situations where the idea of repeated or irregular crossings is relevant. Overall, understanding its usage helps writers effectively describe intricate networks, paths, and patterns in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intersecting repeatedly

Replaces "crisscrossing" with a more explicit description of the action.

crossing and recrossing

Emphasizes the back-and-forth nature of the crossing.

interweaving

Focuses on the interwoven pattern created by the crossing.

interlacing

Similar to interweaving, but suggests a more structured pattern.

moving back and forth across

A more verbose but clear alternative.

traversing repeatedly

Highlights the act of traveling across something multiple times.

navigating a network of

Implies a more complex system of paths or routes.

meandering through

Suggests a less direct and more winding path.

intersecting at various points

Focuses on the points of intersection rather than the movement.

weaving a path through

Emphasizes the creation of a path by the movement.

FAQs

How can I use "crisscrossing" in a sentence?

You can use "crisscrossing" to describe paths or lines that repeatedly intersect, such as "The hiking trails were "crisscrossing" the mountain" or "The city's streets are "crisscrossing" each other at odd angles".

What are some alternatives to the word "crisscrossing"?

Alternatives to "crisscrossing" include "intersecting repeatedly", "crossing and recrossing", or "interweaving", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "crisscrossing" as a verb?

Yes, "crisscrossing" is the present participle of the verb "crisscross", and can be used in continuous tenses (e.g., "The delivery truck is "crisscrossing" the city today").

What is the difference between "crisscrossing" and "intersecting"?

"Intersecting" simply means to cross or meet at a point. "Crisscrossing" implies multiple intersections, often creating a pattern or network, suggesting a more complex and potentially repetitive action.