marching ants

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marching ants" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the animated selection outline that appears in graphic design software, indicating an active selection area. Example: "To crop the image, first create a selection using the lasso tool, and you'll see the marching ants around the chosen area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Should he open a newspaper, the column inches might as well be trails of marching ants.

The Guardian

A Colombian friend of mine brought back some Colombian marching ants.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The crowd resembled a horde of marching ants as they scurried about, focused on leaving the city.

The New York Times

In an interview with the nonprofit Edge Foundation, assistant professor Iain Couzin talks about the rules that govern schooling fish, swarming locusts, and marching ants.

Princeton University

He can read most crime stories without difficulty because of their simple language, but ornate writing styles leave him queasy, and adverbs, which "swarmed like marching ants," make his skin crawl.

The New York Times - Books

To deselect and get rid of the marching ants, press control/command+D.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Like others of its genus, the plain-brown woodcreeper (Dendrocincla fuliginosa), of Honduras to northeastern Argentina, often follows marching ant columns, eating the insects and other creatures routed out by the ants.

Britannica

Or the imposing man-made curve of the walkway to a Soviet hydroelectric dam in Doctor Zhivago, grey-uniformed workers marching like ants out of the piercing light of a tunnel crested by a single red star, their shadows lengthening eerily against the hard rock.

The Guardian - Film

(Or, if we're very lucky, eat one another: Argentine fire ants, marching north from Alabama, have feasted on Japanese beetles, marching south).

The New Yorker

And yes, the Dave Matthews Band closes with a long version of "Ants Marching".

The New York Times

"We've been tested over again, with strikes and storms and snow, and we are like ants marching," Mr. Crandall said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a selection in graphic design software, use "marching ants" to clearly indicate the animated, dotted line surrounding the selected area. This term is widely understood in the field.

Common error

Avoid using "marching ants" when you simply mean ants that are walking in a line. The term has a specific meaning in the context of digital imaging and graphic design; otherwise, describe the ants as simply "marching".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marching ants" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It can refer literally to ants moving in a line or, more commonly, as Ludwig AI confirms, to the animated dotted line indicating a selected area in graphic design software.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

18%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "marching ants" can refer to ants moving in a line, but more commonly denotes the animated selection outline in graphic design software. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While its frequency is uncommon, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, its meaning is well-established in both general and technical contexts. When describing ants, consider alternative phrases like "ant column" or "line of ants". In graphic design, "animated selection border" or "marquee selection" can serve as alternatives, although "marching ants" is the more common term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

animated selection border

Technical term referring to the selection outline in graphic software.

marquee selection

Another technical name referring to the selection outline in graphic software.

line of ants

Simple description of ants forming a line.

dotted selection line

Describes the visual aspect of a selection outline in graphic software.

ant column

Focuses specifically on the linear arrangement of ants.

ant procession

Emphasizes the orderly movement of the ants.

trail of ants

Highlights the path created by the ants.

army of ants

Implies a large, organized group of ants.

ant parade

Suggests an organized and visible movement of ants.

swarm of ants

Describes a large, moving mass of ants.

FAQs

How to use "marching ants" in a sentence related to graphic design?

In graphic design, you might say, "The "marching ants" indicated the area I had selected for editing."

What does "marching ants" mean in photo editing software?

In photo editing software, "marching ants" refers to the animated, dotted line that outlines a selected area of an image.

Are there alternative terms for "marching ants" in graphic design?

Yes, alternative terms include "animated selection border" or "marquee selection", but "marching ants" is the most common and widely understood.

Can "marching ants" be used to describe actual ants?

While technically descriptive, it's more common to simply say "ants marching" to describe actual ants moving in a line. "Marching ants" is usually reserved for the selection indicator in graphic design software.