passage down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passage down" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "pass down," which is used to indicate the act of transferring something from one person or generation to another. Example: "Traditions are often passed down from parents to their children."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

John and I had talked about that day: how all he could think about were his wife and the kids; he described the passage down, the smoke and the way people helped each other.

The New York Times - Magazine

However, our baseline emigration survival values may be too high if passage down and out of the Mokelumne River involves higher mortality risk compared to the American River; altering these rates leads to predictions of life histories consistent with what we observe on the Mokelumne.

Evolutionary Applications

At the end of its passage down the pipes, the falling water causes turbines to rotate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Off the main service passage, down some stairs and through a heavy door, I discovered a sunken room.

The New Yorker

Federico Fossi, a spokesman for the UNHCR, put migrants' safe passage down to increased EU rescue efforts.

The Guardian

23)Heart of Darkness  Aboard the Nellie anchored in the River Thames, Charles Marlow tells his fellow sailors about his passage down the African coast.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

In recent years Mr. Domingo's voice has sometimes sounded a little leathery, his legato can be patchy, and he has increasingly relied on transpositions to bring certain high passages down into his vocal comfort zone.

The New York Times - Arts

Those who found safe passage back down told of bodies littering their path, some murdered by IS, others dead from starvation or heat exhaustion.It was on the plight of the Yazidis and on "prevent[ing] genocide" that Barack Obama concentrated when he announced that America would again be intervening militarily in Iraq, almost three years after it withdrew its last troops from the country.

The Economist

I've done a translation myself (of a modern Greek poet), and my guess is that you could spend an entire working day solving the problems presented in this six-line passage — nailing down the meaning in a first draft, perhaps, and then spending several hours working out how to get the sound effects, to say nothing of the rhythm.

The New Yorker

At the far end of Passage, sit down for what is arguably the best cappuccino in Kiev in the elegant Wolkonsky café.

BBC

Applications for assisted passages are down by 7,328 - 22 per cent - on the first two and half months of this year compared with the same period of 1972.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "passage down" with more precise terms like "descent", "path downwards", or rephrasing to use "pass down" when referring to inheritance or transfer. Tailor your choice to the specific context to enhance clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "passage down" when you mean to say "pass down". "Pass down" is used when something is transferred from one generation to the next, as in "traditions are passed down". Using "passage down" in this context is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passage down" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used to describe a route or way leading downwards. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Examples often relate to literal downwards movement or metaphorical transitions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "passage down" appears with some frequency across diverse sources like news media and scientific literature, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It's typically intended to describe routes or processes moving downwards. Given its questionable grammatical status, it's best to opt for clearer, more precise alternatives such as "descent", "path downwards", or rephrasing the sentence entirely. When inheritance or transfer is intended, using "pass down" is the correct choice. Therefore, being mindful of both grammatical accuracy and contextual appropriateness will lead to more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

path downwards

Highlights the direction of the route or journey, suitable in descriptive contexts.

descent

Focuses specifically on the act of moving downwards, losing the broader sense of "passage".

route downwards

Similar to "path downwards", but emphasizes planning or directionality.

journey down

Similar to "trip down", but suggesting a longer or more significant travel.

way down

Emphasizes the route or path taken downwards, but is less formal than "passage".

trip down

Implies a journey downwards, often used for describing travel or exploration.

going down

A more casual way to describe moving downwards, suitable for informal contexts.

channeling down

Suggests directing or guiding something downwards, often used in scientific or engineering contexts.

passing down

Emphasizes the act of transferring or conveying something through generations, distinct from downward movement.

giving down

A less common way to indicate providing or bestowing something, changing the central idea of "passage".

FAQs

Is "passage down" grammatically correct?

No, "passage down" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. It's better to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "passage down" when referring to movement?

Consider using alternatives such as "descent", "path downwards", or "route downwards" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "pass down"?

"Pass down" is appropriate when referring to the act of transferring something, such as traditions, knowledge, or possessions, from one generation to another. For example, "These skills were "passed down" through generations".

What's the difference between "passage down" and "pass down"?

"Passage down" is generally incorrect. "Pass down" means to transfer something to a younger generation. The confusion arises because "passage" refers to a route or journey, but combining it with "down" doesn't create a standard or grammatically sound phrase in most contexts. Use "pass down" for inheritance and other alternatives depending on the movement you are describing.