driveways

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driveways" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the private roads leading to a house or building where vehicles are parked. Example: "The snow had piled up on the driveways, making it difficult for residents to leave their homes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You brought his life to an end without any motive in circumstances which you know amounted to murder…" Since his mother died, Ben Gunn had been forever escaping the rules and authority that had closed in on him, climbing out of windows, scarpering down driveways.

The Guardian

Edmonton's decline is made starker by the way London sticks the poor at the end of the rich's driveways.

The Guardian

IN MOST countries, the word "suburb" evokes clipped hedges, wide driveways and tranquillity.

The Economist

Owners with garages or driveways can top up at night using the domestic supply.

The Economist

Residents in the divine neighbourhood, meanwhile, rented out their driveways to television trucks.

The Economist

In other applications, such as driveways and airport runways, a higher-voltage supply could be used to melt ice and snow.

The Economist

He adds to the family income by selling firewood and clearing driveways in winter.

The Economist

There are some shops on the main street, and cars in many of the driveways.

The Economist

But studying whales has been likened to researching humans solely by watching them in their driveways.

The Economist

Some streets are dilapidated and the crime rate is high, but turn a corner and there are fine houses, with barbecues and decent cars in the driveways.

The Economist

During a trip to Israel a few years ago he was shocked to learn that Israel had once been only nine miles wide: "In Texas, some of our driveways are longer than that".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In discussions about property value, mentioning well-maintained "driveways" can highlight curb appeal.

Common error

Don't use "driveways" interchangeably with general roads. A "driveway" specifically refers to the private access leading to a residence or building.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "driveways" is as a plural noun, typically used to refer to the paved or unpaved areas providing access from a public road to a private garage or house, as showcased in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "driveways" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, as Ludwig AI confirms. It functions as a plural noun referring to the access roads to private residences. Its usage spans various contexts, from news reports to encyclopedia entries, and maintains a neutral register. While alternatives like "private roads" exist, "driveways" remains the most common and readily understood term for this feature of residential properties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private roads

Focuses on the road aspect of a driveway, emphasizing its private nature.

access roads

Highlights the function of providing access to a property.

parking areas

Emphasizes the parking function of driveways.

garage approaches

Specifies the section of the driveway that leads to the garage.

residential entrances

Highlights the entrance aspect of a driveway to a residential property.

house approaches

General term indicating the area leading up to a house.

paved surfaces

Describes the material composition of many driveways.

parking spaces

Refers to designated areas for parking vehicles, which could include driveways.

access lanes

Similar to access roads, but implies a narrower path.

carports

A structure for sheltering vehicles, often connected to driveways.

FAQs

How can I describe multiple "driveways" in a neighborhood?

You can refer to the "driveways" as a collective feature of the streetscape, highlighting their appearance or condition, such as "neatly lined driveways" or "overgrown driveways".

What are some alternatives to calling them "driveways"?

Depending on the context, you could use "private roads", "access roads", or "parking areas" to describe "driveways".

Is it correct to say "drive way" instead of "driveway"?

No, "drive way" as two separate words is generally incorrect. The correct term is "driveway" as one word.

What is the difference between a "driveway" and a "parking lot"?

A "driveway" is a private access leading to a single residence or building, whereas a "parking lot" is a larger, public area designed for parking multiple vehicles.