diagonally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "diagonally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a direction or orientation that is at an angle, typically between horizontal and vertical. Example: "The picture was hung diagonally on the wall, creating a unique visual effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images Updated at 11.17pm BST Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.09pm BST23 09 ET11: The ball breaks kindly in the crowded penalty area for Mehdi Mostefa, who shoots diagonally from approximately 10 yards.

The Guardian - Sport

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.06pm BST23 06 ET8: Muller shoots from distance, left to right diagonally.

The Guardian - Sport

Chancellor Angela Merkel and her ministers, if present at all, sit diagonally behind the orators, so that they can ignore them and catch up on some reading.

The Economist

They saw it as an affront to Mao, whose giant portrait hung diagonally opposite.Sun Tzu is not so tainted.

The Economist

As a result, any connection between diagonally opposite corners of a chip will be a series of zigs and zags.

The Economist

Asus's first Eee PC was a puny device with a screen measuring only seven inches (18 centimetres) diagonally, a midget keyboard and flash memory instead of a hard disk.

The Economist

At the typical distance of nine feet, a 1080p HDTV set (with a screen 1,920 pixels wide and 1,080 pixels high) needs to be at least 69 inches across (measured diagonally) if viewers are to see all the detail it offers.

The Economist

Because the octagonal pixels are aligned diagonally along 45º axes, instead of being arranged in horizontal and vertical rows and columns, pairs of pixels of the same colour can be next to one another, which is impossible in a Bayer rectangular array.

The Economist

For the vast majority of his campaign, Alexi Giannoulias inexplicably wore his hair in a front flip (the kind favoured by barhoppers in diagonally striped shirts).

The Economist

According to the magazine Der Spiegel, which has its Berlin bureau diagonally across from the embassy, they built that odd-looking grey structure pictured above on their roof so that they could hide spies and their equipment behind it.

The Economist

But now they are proving popular not just with families and first-time computer buyers but also with power users who want something small, lightweight and cheap.They typically have screens measuring seven to ten inches diagonally.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, use "diagonally" to accurately describe forces, lines, or arrangements that are neither perfectly horizontal nor vertical. It provides clarity in engineering and design descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "diagonally" interchangeably with adverbs like "directly" or "perpendicularly". "Diagonally" implies a specific angled direction, while the others refer to straight or right-angled paths. Choosing the wrong adverb can significantly alter the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "diagonally" primarily functions to modify verbs or adjectives, indicating the direction or orientation of an action or object. As shown by Ludwig, it specifies movement or placement along a diagonal line, rather than horizontally or vertically.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

News & Media

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "diagonally" functions as an adverb to specify a direction or orientation at an angle. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in describing spatial arrangements, measurements, and movements. While versatile, it's crucial to differentiate its meaning from similar directional adverbs like "directly" or "perpendicularly". The term sees frequent use in authoritative sources such as Encyclopedia Britannica and news outlets like The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at an angle

This alternative provides a more general description of direction, focusing on the presence of an angle without specifying the exact orientation.

obliquely

This word provides a more formal and less common synonym, suggesting a slanting or inclined direction.

slantwise

This alternative conveys the idea of moving or positioning something in a slanting manner.

on a slant

This phrase suggests a direction or position that deviates from the horizontal or vertical.

canted

This term implies a tilting or sloping direction, often used in technical or architectural contexts.

aslant

This alternative is a more literary or archaic way of saying 'at a slant'.

crosswise

Suggests a direction that intersects or crosses another line or plane.

corner to corner

This phrase describes a direction that spans from one corner to another of a defined area.

on the bias

This term is commonly used in sewing and fabric work, indicating a direction that is not on the straight grain.

at a skew

This phrase indicates a direction that is not parallel or perpendicular to a given line or plane.

FAQs

How is the word "diagonally" used in a sentence?

The word "diagonally" is used to describe something that is positioned or moving along a diagonal line. For example, "The stripe ran "diagonally" across the flag" or "The chess piece moves "diagonally" across the board."

What's another way to say "diagonally"?

You can use alternatives like "at an angle", "obliquely", or "slantwise" to express a similar meaning to "diagonally". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "diagonally across"?

Yes, "diagonally across" is a perfectly correct and common usage. It indicates movement or placement that spans from one side to another at an angle, as in "The path runs "diagonally across" the field."

What does it mean when something is measured "diagonally"?

When something is measured "diagonally", it means the measurement is taken from one corner to the opposite corner. This is often used for screens and other rectangular objects, as in "The TV screen measures 55 inches "diagonally"."