drag across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drag across" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of moving an object or cursor across a surface or area, often in a digital context. Example: "To select multiple files, simply click and drag across the items you want to choose."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Trying to stuff them into the disk drive didn't work, but I discovered an early handheld scanner that you would drag across what you wanted to scan.

The New Yorker

Consumers, he said, are less loyal to products they put in their electronic gadgets than to ones they drag across their faces or legs.

The New York Times

You can drag across the screen to flip through your pictures.

The New York Times - Tech

Then he has an equally huge drag across the line, ugly, but got two, saved on the rope by Warner.

The Guardian - Sport

So if Labor and the Greens vote together in opposition to a Coalition government, they only need to drag across two crossbenchers to block legislation.

The Guardian

That would be as futile as explaining to Mr. King how marijuana enters the market (hint: 75 pounds is a whole lot to drag across the desert, even if you have calves the size of cantaloupes).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Several boats were tied to the Panzers and dragged across, but the tanks were knocked out.

Wikipedia

My hand dragged across the page.

The New Yorker

Another student was dragged across the floor.

The New York Times

"Meeks had to be dragged across the line".

The New York Times

(The music from "Psycho" plays as a knife, attached to a cord, drags across the floor).

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions involving digital interfaces, such as selecting items or panning across images, use "drag across" to clearly convey the continuous movement with a mouse or finger.

Common error

Be precise when describing movement. Do not use "drag across" if the action involves clicking without dragging, as this can confuse the reader. Ensure the context clearly indicates a continuous dragging motion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "drag across" is a phrasal verb used to describe the act of moving something or a cursor continuously over a surface. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its usage in both literal and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

33%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drag across" functions as a phrasal verb, commonly used to describe a continuous movement across a surface, whether physical or digital. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in various contexts, particularly in news, wiki, and scientific domains. While alternatives like "slide over" or "pull across" exist, "drag across" is particularly effective when emphasizing the act of moving something continuously from one point to another. Remember to use this phrase when precision and clarity about the dragging motion are essential in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slide over

Focuses on the smooth movement, emphasizing the sliding action.

pull across

Emphasizes the pulling motion to move something from one side to the other.

sweep over

Suggests a broader, encompassing movement across a surface.

draw along

Highlights the continuous motion of pulling something in a line.

skim over

Implies a light, superficial movement across the surface.

smear across

Describes spreading a substance while moving across a surface.

rub along

Highlights the frictional contact while moving across a surface.

glide over

Emphasizes a smooth, effortless movement across a surface.

move over

A more general term for shifting something to another position.

shift along

Focuses on a slight change in position while maintaining contact.

FAQs

How can I use "drag across" in a sentence?

You can use "drag across" to describe the motion of moving something across a surface, such as "Using the paintbrush tool, you simply touch and drag across the portion of the photo that you want to remove."

What are some alternatives to "drag across"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "slide over", "pull across", or "sweep over".

Is it correct to say "dragging across" instead of "drag across"?

Yes, "dragging across" is the present participle form of the verb phrase and is grammatically correct. For example, "The little dog was dragging across the floor a nine-pound bone".

What is the difference between "drag across" and "carry across"?

"Drag across" implies pulling something along a surface, while "carry across" implies lifting and transporting something. The key difference is whether the object maintains contact with the surface.