separate the crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "separate the crowd" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use this phrase when describing the action of someone or something that is causing a group of people to disperse, or to divide from one another. For example: The police officers arrived and separated the crowd into two distinct groups.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Firstly, we separate the crowd image into patches to treat different spatial locations discriminatively.

Neurocomputing

Likewise, whoever decided to separate the crowd's celebrated "Rain Chant" from its former segue into Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" has thoughtlessly jettisoned one of the original album's greatest coups de théâtre, also decoupling the sense of collectivity between audience and performers.

Independent

Police from several jurisdictions have formed a line to separate the crowd from the crime scene.

Huffington Post

Despite the appearance of velvet ropes and red carpets in Hollywood to separate the crowd from the celebrities, as it turns out, we are all stars, or the remains of them.

HuffPost

It was nearly midnight when I arrived in Little Havana, and the block of modest, concrete houses, awash in television lights, was teeming with people standing behind the barricades that separate the crowd from the house.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The riot police attempted to separate the crowds.

The New York Times

Balal's mother Kobra, sobbing, reached across the fence separating the crowd from the execution site, and embraced Alinejad before reaching to kiss her feet – a gesture of respect and gratitude.

The Guardian

A1 Irish Sex Abuse Protests A locked gate separated the crowd from the entrance at the headquarters of the Royal Dublin Society, where dozens of protesters demonstrated against the sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic priests.

The New York Times

A high steel fencing separates the crowd and the field in Busto Arizio, and that also tells a story of methods of protection that were outlawed long ago in other European countries, especially England after 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death against fences in 1989.

The New York Times - Sports

Having been seduced by the promise of non-stop mayhem, some of the people in the stadium were evidently disappointed when, in the first round, Vargas and Salido came together and then stayed that way, entangled; as they were separated, the crowd began to boo.

The New Yorker

Juan Torres of San Diego was leaning against a fence separating the crowd from the press pit.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions taken by authorities or security personnel, use "separate the crowd" to convey the idea of maintaining order or preventing conflict.

Common error

Avoid using "separate the crowd" in informal contexts where simpler phrases like "move apart" or "make way" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "separate the crowd" functions primarily as a verb phrase used to describe an action performed on a group of people. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, particularly in contexts involving crowd management and security as shown in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "separate the crowd" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not extremely common, it effectively conveys the action of dividing or dispersing a group of people, primarily in neutral contexts such as news reports and formal descriptions. Alternative phrases like "disperse the crowd" or "split the crowd" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in nuance. When using "separate the crowd", consider the context and avoid overuse in casual conversation where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate. The phrase sees frequent use in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disperse the crowd

Emphasizes scattering the crowd, often used in situations where a crowd needs to be broken up.

break up the crowd

Suggests disrupting and ending the crowd's gathering.

split the crowd

Focuses on dividing the crowd into distinct groups.

divide the crowd

A general term for creating divisions within a crowd.

segregate the crowd

Implies a more formal or enforced separation, often based on specific criteria.

separate individuals in a crowd

Emphasizes the action of distinguishing and setting apart members within a large assembly.

isolate individuals from the crowd

Focuses on removing specific people from the larger group.

decouple the crowd

Implies to break the connection or relationship with a crowd.

clear the area of people

Highlights removing everyone from a specific location.

control the crowd by separation

Highlights using separation as a crowd control method.

FAQs

How can I use "separate the crowd" in a sentence?

You can use "separate the crowd" to describe actions taken to divide or disperse a group of people, such as "The police used barricades to "separate the crowd" and prevent further clashes."

What are some alternative phrases for "separate the crowd"?

Alternatives include phrases like "disperse the crowd", "split the crowd", or "break up the crowd", each carrying slightly different connotations depending on the context.

Is it better to say "separate the crowd" or "disperse the crowd"?

Both ""separate the crowd"" and "disperse the crowd" are correct, but "disperse" often implies a more forceful or rapid scattering of the group.

What's the difference between "separate the crowd" and "segregate the crowd"?

"Separate the crowd" generally means to divide a group, while "segregate the crowd" implies a separation based on specific characteristics or criteria, which can sometimes carry negative connotations.