great circle route

USAGE SUMMARY

"great circle route" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the Earth which follows the curvature of the Earth. For example, "We took a great circle route from London to Sydney, which was the most direct way to reach our destination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The great circle route westward over the Arctic.

The New Yorker

Great circle route, the shortest course between two points on the surface of a sphere.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The archipelago is a hazardous traffic median in the great circle route, the shortest path between ports on either side of the North Pacific.

The Economist

Alaska is central to the great circle route connecting North America with Asia by sea and air and is equidistant from most of Asia and Europe.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His main fear is of being run over by a steamer since the great circle route he will travel will put him in the steamer lanes the whole time.

The New Yorker

(The geographical mile is defined as one minute of arc along the Earth's equator; compare the nautical mile, defined as one minute of arc along any great circle route).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Long-distance air traffic uses great circle routes routinely, saving time and fuel.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Great circle routes are usually plotted on charts based on the gnomonic projection, on which great circles appear as straight lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Great circle routes, which require constantly changing headings, are most useful beyond the equatorial regions and for distances greater than several hundred miles.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Canada occupies a strategic global location, lying on great circle routes (the shortest line joining any two places on the globe) between the United States and Europe and, to a lesser degree, Asia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most flights linking the US and points east of Cairo need to stop off at some point to refuel, and Prestwick is the nearest major freight airport to these great circle routes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing routes that span long distances, especially in aviation or maritime contexts, use "great circle route" to emphasize the route's efficiency in terms of distance.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a straight line on a flat map represents the "great circle route". Flat maps distort distances; always use appropriate navigational tools to plot the actual shortest path.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great circle route" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts, indicating that it is a standard and accepted term.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

29%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "great circle route" refers to the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, commonly used in navigation and geography. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used. Analysis indicates its frequent usage in news, encyclopedias and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, remember that a straight line on a flat map does not represent a "great circle route". Alternatives include "orthodromic route" and "geodesic path".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

orthodromic route

Uses a technical term, 'orthodromic', to refer to the shortest distance on a sphere.

geodesic path

Emphasizes the shortest path concept, using 'geodesic' which applies to curved surfaces.

shortest distance path

Directly describes the concept of the shortest path between two points.

direct navigational course

Focuses on navigation using the most direct path.

optimal flight path

Specifically refers to flight routes that are most efficient.

minimum distance trajectory

Highlights the trajectory aspect with minimal distance covered.

shortest path on a sphere

Explicitly states the geometrical context.

primary shipping lane

Refers to common sea routes, implying efficiency and directness.

most efficient trajectory

Focuses on the efficiency of the path, which can be inferred from a "great circle route".

as-the-crow-flies path

A more informal way to describe a straight, direct path, though not always technically a great circle.

FAQs

How is a "great circle route" used in navigation?

A "great circle route" is used in navigation to find the shortest distance between two points on Earth's surface, especially for long-distance travel by air or sea. It requires constant adjustments to the heading, unlike a rhumb line which maintains a constant bearing.

What are some alternatives to saying "great circle route"?

You can use alternatives like "orthodromic route", "geodesic path", or "shortest distance path" depending on the context.

What's the difference between a "great circle route" and a straight line on a map?

A straight line on a flat map (like a Mercator projection) doesn't represent the shortest distance due to map distortion. A "great circle route" is the actual shortest distance, accounting for Earth's curvature. Therefore, they are equivalent only on a globe.

Why do airplanes often follow a "great circle route"?

Airplanes follow a "great circle route" to save fuel and time. Although it may appear curved on a flat map, it is the shortest path between two points on the globe, minimizing the distance flown.