drive across

USAGE SUMMARY

"drive across" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used when describing traveling by car or other vehicle from one side of an area to the other. Example: "I decided to take a road trip and drive across the country, from New York to California."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What if I wanted to drive across there?

Independent

"We wanted to drive across the fjords," Ms. Daumas said.

The New York Times

Hewas desperate to drive across town to find them.

The New York Times - Books

Drive across a bridge and you're in Mexico".

The Guardian - Books

As we drive across Northern Ireland, Nesbitt shudders.

The Guardian

A drive across the Mojave was one thing.

The New York Times - Magazine

John's and drive across the island, or take a ferry?

The New York Times - Travel

Go through it and drive across the field.

The New Yorker

Deficient bridges are, broadly speaking, safe to drive across.

The Washington Post

The relatively short drive across the Golden Gate Bridge in California does not blend into the 24-mile drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana.

The New York Times

That is a wide open space to drive across, wondering about your options.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drive across", ensure the context clearly indicates the area or distance being traversed. For example, "drive across town" is more specific than just "drive across".

Common error

Avoid using "drive across" when referring to very short distances, such as within a parking lot. Instead, use phrases like "drive a short distance" or "drive over to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drive across" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of moving a vehicle from one point to another over a surface or area. Ludwig shows that is a commonly accepted phrasal verb in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drive across" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of traveling by vehicle from one side of an area to another. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is most frequently used in News & Media and Academia. When using "drive across", ensure that the context clearly defines the area being traversed. Alternative phrases like "traverse by car" can be used for a more formal tone, and consider using "driving across" for continuous tenses. Be mindful of the distance and vehicle type to maintain accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

traverse by car

More formal way to express the idea of crossing an area by car.

motor across

Implies using a motor vehicle to traverse, emphasizing the mechanical means of transport.

cross by vehicle

Broader term that encompasses any type of vehicle, not just a car.

travel over

Focuses more generally on the act of traveling, not specifically driving.

go across by car

More verbose and less direct way of saying "drive across".

take a road trip across

Highlights the aspect of a leisurely journey by road.

ride over

Suggests riding an animal or vehicle to cross a distance.

make a journey across

Focuses on the entire trip rather than just the driving action.

pass over

Emphasizes the act of going over a feature or obstacle.

transport by car

Focuses on the act of transporting something or someone using a car.

FAQs

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

Use "drive across" to describe traveling by car or other vehicle from one side of an area to the other. For instance, "I want to "drive across the country" this summer".

What's a more formal alternative to "drive across"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "traverse by vehicle" or "cross by automobile", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "driving across" instead of "drive across"?

Yes, "driving across" is the present participle form and is correct in continuous tenses, such as "I am driving across the desert".

When should I avoid using the phrase "drive across"?

Avoid using "drive across" if the distance is very short or if the vehicle is not a car. In such cases, consider more specific phrases like "drive a short distance" or "go across by car".