drives erratically

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drives erratically" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who operates a vehicle in an unpredictable or unsafe manner. Example: "The driver in the red car drives erratically, swerving between lanes and speeding through intersections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mia Halling's husband, Frederik, is not himself: he drives erratically and cries easily.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He started to drive erratically, sometimes at more than 120 miles an hour.

The New York Times

Witnesses said they had seen the light metallic green saloon car being driven erratically earlier.

The Guardian

He drove erratically, he putted poorly, and his short game was spotty.

The New York Times - Sports

In June 2008, his car was seen being driven erratically after a crash in London.

The Guardian

But Mr. Delaherran, 28, insisted he had not driven erratically at all.

The New York Times

He sat on a sled pulled behind a snowmobile that was driven — erratically, at first — by Hedegaard, the climate minister.

The New Yorker

Some have speculated that Gray was subjected to a "rough ride", whereby a vehicle is deliberately driven erratically.

The Guardian

Lalo's brother-in-law drove erratically and the others were too frightened to drive at all.

The New York Times

Scotland Yard said police officers spotted a van being "driven erratically at speed" that failed to stop.

The Guardian

Officers pulled over a dark Hummer being driven erratically and found Mr. Criss inside wearing a bulletproof vest.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing specific instances of erratic driving, provide details about the actions that constitute the behavior, such as swerving, speeding, or sudden braking. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "drives erratically" as a vague catch-all. Instead, specify the problematic driving behaviors like excessive speeding, weaving through traffic, or ignoring traffic signals, to create a more vivid and accurate picture for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drives erratically" functions as a verb phrase where the verb 'drives' is modified by the adverb 'erratically'. It describes the manner in which someone operates a vehicle. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drives erratically" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible way to describe unsafe driving. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Although relatively uncommon, its usage is clear, primarily appearing in news reports to detail incidents. To enhance your writing, focus on specifics—describing the exact actions that constitute erratic driving rather than relying on the general term. Consider alternatives like "drives recklessly" or "exhibits erratic driving behavior" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drives recklessly

Emphasizes disregard for safety and potential harm.

drives dangerously

Highlights the potential for causing harm or accidents.

exhibits erratic driving behavior

More formal and descriptive, focusing on the observed behavior.

operates a vehicle unsafely

General term indicating a lack of safe driving practices.

lacks driving control

Highlights the driver's inability to manage the vehicle properly.

navigates unpredictably

Focuses on the unexpected and inconsistent nature of the driving.

maneuvers haphazardly

Describes driving with a lack of planning or organization.

pilots erratically

Uses 'pilots' as a more evocative synonym for 'drives'.

steers inconsistently

Focuses specifically on the steering aspect of erratic driving.

shows poor driving skills

Broader term encompassing various driving deficiencies.

FAQs

How can I describe erratic driving?

Instead of just saying someone "drives erratically", specify the concerning behaviors. Are they swerving, speeding, or braking suddenly? Providing detail makes the description more vivid and informative.

What's a less common way to say "drives erratically"?

For a more formal tone, consider saying someone "exhibits "erratic driving behavior"" or "operates a vehicle unsafely".

Is it acceptable to say "drive erratically" or is "drives erratically" more appropriate?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "drive erratically" for plural subjects (e.g. "They drive erratically") and "drives erratically" for singular subjects (e.g. "He drives erratically").

What is the best way to document an instance of "drives erratically" in police report?

In police report document specific observations like "vehicle swerved across two lanes" or "driver failed to stop at a red light" instead of saying "drives erratically".