on the border of

USAGE SUMMARY

"on the border of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a physical location or a figurative boundary. Example 1 (physical location): The small town of Willow Creek is located on the border of California and Oregon. Example 2 (figurative boundary): The politician's controversial statement was on the border of what is considered acceptable speech in our society.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On the border of music and sound.

The New Yorker

"We have Ahmadinejad on the border of Palestine.

The New York Times

Ms. Phillips's own words lingered on the border of intimacy.

The New York Times

The reader is always on the border of a consciousness.

The Guardian - Film

Route 22 on the border of Mountainside and Westfield.

The New York Times

A plaza on the border of Brooklyn and Queens.

The New York Times

In interacting electron systems, Henley's research group worked on the border of analytic theory and computation.

Cornell University

The plane crashes exactly on the border of Canada and the United States.

Yale University

Extracellular vesicles in gastrointestinal cancer in conjunction with microbiota: On the border of Kingdoms.

Harvard University

The oil find is in woodland on the border of Surrey and Sussex.

Independent

Nāga Hills, part of the complex mountain barrier on the border of India and Myanmar (Burma).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing geographical locations, use "on the border of" to clearly indicate that a place is situated at the dividing line between two regions or entities. This is more precise than simply saying 'near' or 'close to'.

Common error

Don't use "on the border of" when you mean 'near' or 'in the vicinity of'. The phrase specifies a location directly at the dividing line, not just somewhere nearby.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the border of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, indicating its location relative to a boundary. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard English phrase. Examples in Ludwig show it describing physical locations, like "a town on the border of New York and New Jersey."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Science

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on the border of" is a grammatically sound and very common prepositional phrase used to denote a location precisely at the dividing line between two areas. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely accepted in English. Usage ranges from describing geographical locations to more abstract or figurative boundaries. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Academic contexts, suggesting a register that is primarily neutral. When using this phrase, ensure that the intention is to indicate a position directly at the border, avoiding the common mistake of using it as a substitute for 'near'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bordering

Similar to "on the border of" but emphasizes the act of creating a border.

bounding

Similar to 'bordering' but can also indicate defining or limiting.

adjacent to

Expresses direct physical closeness, implying sharing a boundary.

abutting

Implies a direct physical touching or joining at a border.

neighboring

Indicates a relationship of being next to or sharing a border.

contiguous with

Indicates direct adjacency and uninterrupted sequence or contact.

at the edge of

Focuses on the limit or extremity of something.

in close proximity to

Highlights the nearness of one thing to another, more formal.

fronting on

Describes facing or having a frontage on a boundary.

on the periphery of

Suggests being on the outer limits or less central part.

FAQs

How can I use "on the border of" in a sentence?

Use "on the border of" to indicate a location situated at the dividing line between two areas. For example, "The town is located on the border of France and Spain".

What are some alternatives to "on the border of"?

You can use alternatives like "adjacent to", "bordering", or "neighboring", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in the border of" instead of "on the border of"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "on." "On the border of" is the idiomatic and grammatically accepted phrase. "In the border of" is not standard English.

Can "on the border of" be used figuratively?

Yes, "on the border of" can be used figuratively to describe something that exists at the edge or limit of a concept or state. For example, "His actions were on the border of what was considered ethical".