split the crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "split the crowd" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this expression when the crowd needs to be separated into two or more groups. For example, "The police had to split the crowd in order to prevent any further disturbance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It split the crowd.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Blackpool's Oyston Out protest was fierce, Villa's Lerner Out weary, and Arsenal's Wenger Out split the crowd.

The Guardian - Sport

Half steps!" A few hundred feet farther on, a policeman and an M.P. stood in the middle of the street and split the crowd down the middle.

The New Yorker

Their push split the crowd into three main fronts, one on each side of three intersections, namely al-Khalifa al-Ma'moun Street, Mansheyet El Bakry Street and Roxy Square.

The Guardian

He may have to split the crowd into two vast auditoriums.

Forbes

The whole thing was meant to be a highly sophisticated way to split the crowd into two divisions.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Hinging his shaved head downward as he passes through the doorway, he splits the crowd, finding room toward the middle.

The New Yorker

"It splits the crowd and the vagaries of the weather - sometimes you can get very good weather at this time of year," Arthur continued.

BBC

The client split the waiting crowd, went to the maître d, handed him a wad of cash, and got us the best table.

The Guardian - Money

When Reyna and Razov finally combined in the 45th minute with a nice drop pass that split the defense, even the crowd seemed to sense that this might not be the home side's day.

The New York Times - Sports

Mark Smith, who lives near the site of the protest, said: "I saw riot police with their batons charging at protesters trying to split up the crowd". Eventually the majority of the protesters dispersed peacefully into the night.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "split the crowd" when describing a deliberate action to divide a group of people, whether physically or ideologically.

Common error

Avoid using "split the crowd" when referring to dividing non-crowd entities like a team or a company. Instead, use verbs like 'divide', 'separate' or 'reorganize'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "split the crowd" functions as a verb phrase, where 'split' is a transitive verb and 'the crowd' is its direct object. Ludwig confirms its correctness and use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "split the crowd" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the act of dividing a group of people. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and suitability for various contexts. While alternatives like "divide the crowd" or "separate the crowd" exist, "split the crowd" effectively conveys both physical separation and figurative division. Remember to reserve this phrase for instances involving actual crowds, not just any group. Its presence in news media and other general sources indicates a neutral register, making it appropriate for diverse communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divide the crowd

Emphasizes separation into distinct groups, similar to "split the crowd".

separate the crowd

Focuses on creating space between individuals in the crowd.

disperse the crowd

Implies scattering the crowd, rather than necessarily forming distinct groups.

break up the crowd

Suggests disrupting the crowd's unity, often in a forceful manner.

segment the crowd

Highlights the act of dividing the crowd into sections based on shared attributes.

bisect the crowd

Implies dividing the crowd exactly in half.

cleave the crowd

Suggests a forceful division, creating a clear separation through the crowd.

part the crowd

Conveys the idea of creating a path through the crowd.

isolate a section of the crowd

Highlights the act of separating a particular part from the whole crowd.

segregate the attendees

Implies separation based on specific criteria, creating distinct categories within the crowd.

FAQs

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

You can use "split the crowd" to describe a physical division, like "The police tried to split the crowd to prevent further escalation", or a figurative one, such as "The controversial decision split the crowd of supporters".

What's a good alternative to "split the crowd"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "divide the crowd", "separate the crowd", or "disperse the crowd".

Is "split the crowd" formal or informal?

"Split the crowd" is suitable for both neutral and informal contexts. While not highly formal, it's readily understood and accepted in news reports, everyday conversation, and online content.

Is it ever incorrect to use "split the crowd"?

While grammatically sound, consider if a more precise term like "segment the crowd" or "segregate the attendees" might be more accurate if the division is based on specific criteria.