crossing paths with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crossing paths with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an encounter or meeting with someone, often by chance. Example: "I never expected to be crossing paths with my old friend at the coffee shop after all these years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As they do, they are crossing paths with professionals going in the opposite direction.

The New York Times

Make no mistake: you won't be crossing paths with Kate Moss or Beyonce here.

The Guardian - Travel

"People are transitioning, at intersections in their own lives, and crossing paths with others".

The New York Times - Arts

When prompted, Malvo remembered crossing paths with a Post reporter in Ashland in 2002.

The Washington Post

Sign on, instead, for a strategy that keeps you from crossing paths with the danish.

The Washington Post

During my week in Prestonsburg, I kept crossing paths with an older man who worked in the plaza.

The Guardian

In "Ed" a New York lawyer returns home to the Midwest, almost crossing paths with Jim in midair.

The New York Times - Arts

So how does a person increase the odds of crossing paths with someone who matches his or her preferences?

The New York Times - Health

Yet try as they might -- nearly all voiced strong support for Mr. Bush -- none remembered crossing paths with him.

The New York Times

If Halak is now part of the Islanders' past, he is crossing paths with the team's future.

The New York Times - Sports

YOU can make a career as an exchange-rate economist without ever crossing paths with a currency trader.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crossing paths with" to describe chance encounters or unplanned meetings, especially when emphasizing the serendipitous nature of the meeting.

Common error

Avoid using "crossing paths with" in highly formal or business writing where a more direct and professional term like "meeting" or "contacting" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crossing paths with" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe an encounter. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and readily usable. Examples show it describing literal meetings or more figurative intersections in life.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crossing paths with" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe encountering someone or something, often by chance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for general use, with a neutral register leaning towards informal contexts. It frequently appears in News & Media, indicating its broad applicability. While perfectly valid, using more formal alternatives like "meeting with" or "encountering" might be preferable in highly formal settings. With its high frequency and clear meaning, "crossing paths with" remains a useful phrase for describing interactions across various scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountering

Focuses on the act of meeting someone, often unexpectedly.

meeting by chance

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the meeting.

running into

Suggests a brief and unplanned encounter.

bumping into

Similar to "running into" but implies a more sudden or physical encounter.

coming across

Highlights the unexpected discovery of someone or something.

making contact with

Implies a more deliberate or formal interaction.

intersecting with

More formal and suggests a point of convergence.

engaging with

Focuses on active involvement or interaction.

having dealings with

Suggests a business or transactional interaction.

associating with

Implies a social connection or affiliation.

FAQs

How can I use "crossing paths with" in a sentence?

You can use "crossing paths with" to describe a chance encounter. For example: "I never expected to be crossing paths with my old friend at the conference."

What's a more formal alternative to "crossing paths with"?

In more formal contexts, you might consider using phrases like "meeting with" or "encountering" instead of "crossing paths with".

Is "crossing paths with" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "crossing paths with" may sound too informal for some academic writing. Consider using more precise language depending on the context.

What does it mean to say that two people are "crossing paths with" each other?

When two people are "crossing paths with" each other, it means they are meeting or encountering each other, often unexpectedly or by chance.