crossing over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crossing over" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a transition from one thing to another, especially in stories and music. For example: "The climax of the story is when the main character begins crossing over into an alternate world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

"It's not that she's crossing over borders.

The New York Times

But crossing over isn't a big accomplishment.

The New York Times - Magazine

And shapewear is crossing over into athleisure.

The New York Times

Students are forever crossing over between languages," Kramsch says.

University of California, Berkeley

From Maná's perspective, crossing over may be an anachronism.

The New York Times - Arts

Is the focus on crossing over a mistake?

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Crossing-over has important genetic and evolutionary implications.

Harvard University

Duplicate genes can cause errors in the crossing-over processes.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Although DSBs are a prerequisite for crossing-over, they need not result in crossing-over.

Genome Biology and Evolution

The optional crossing-over period of treatment lasted 4 weeks.

Plosone

Thus, all crossing-over hotspots are also gene-conversion hotspots.

Genetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crossing over" to describe the act of moving or transitioning from one distinct area, genre, or concept to another, maintaining a sense of active movement or change.

Common error

Ensure the context clearly indicates which state or domain is being transitioned from and which is being transitioned to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the origin and destination points of the "crossing over" process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crossing over" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often in the present participle form, describing an ongoing action or process. It can also act as a gerund. Ludwig examples show its usage across varied contexts, from music to genetics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crossing over" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe a transition or movement from one state or domain to another. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While its register is generally neutral, it is more frequently found in formal contexts. Related phrases include "transitioning", "shifting", and "passing over", each offering slightly different nuances. When using "crossing over", ensure clarity in specifying the origin and destination of the transition to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passing over

Similar to "crossing over" but can imply a more subtle or gradual transition.

transitioning

Emphasizes the process of changing from one state or condition to another.

shifting

Suggests a change in position, direction, or focus.

making the leap

Implies a significant change or jump from one thing to another, often involving risk.

moving beyond

Suggests surpassing or exceeding a limit or boundary.

converting

Suggests a transformation from one form or belief to another.

transforming

Emphasizes a complete change in form or appearance.

evolving into

Highlights a gradual development and change into something new.

integrating with

Focuses on combining or uniting with something else to form a whole.

blending into

Indicates a merging or integration with something else, losing distinct boundaries.

FAQs

How can I use "crossing over" in a sentence?

You can use "crossing over" to describe a transition from one genre to another, like "The band is "crossing over" from rock to pop". It can also describe a physical movement, or a shift in perspective.

What does "crossing over" mean in genetics?

In genetics, "crossing over" refers to the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, leading to genetic diversity.

What are some alternatives to "crossing over"?

Depending on the context, you could use "transitioning", "shifting", or "passing over" as alternatives to "crossing over".

Is it correct to say "cross over" instead of "crossing over"?

"Cross over" is the base verb form, while "crossing over" is the present participle. The correct form depends on the sentence structure. For example, "He will cross over the bridge" versus "He is "crossing over" the bridge".