straddle across

USAGE SUMMARY

"straddle across" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing a physical action of crossing somewhere by straddling, or when metaphorically crossing over two different realms or ideas. For example, "She straddled across the river on her bike, taking extra caution not to slip into the icy waters."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This ensures that a saturation value does not straddle across material discontinuities which CVFEM suffer from.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

In the occasion you MUST cross the ice, the best way to cross is to get on your hands and legs and straddle across.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, it's a fragile arrangement straddled across the finest of lines in the employee/employer relationship – and it's one Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver has perhaps overstepped.

The Guardian - Sport

At 150 minutes, the epic length of the film posed a challenge to programmers trying to offer customers a choice of two evening showtimes, and there was evidence of straddling across two screens, alternating with a shorter film.

The Guardian - Film

Ms. Duncan, like millions of other Americans, has her feet firmly straddled across two technologies: embracing the new digital era but still hanging on to the paper records of the fast-disappearing analog age.

The New York Times - Tech

The Albian Kharfot Formation is preserved in the eastern margin of the Jeza-Qamar Basin which straddles across the Oman Yemen border.

Sedimentary Geology

IS has involved children in its violent campaign to establish a caliphate straddling across Syria and Iraq since it first launched its offensive in the summer of 2014.

Vice

Turkey straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosporus.

The New York Times - Sports

She continued: "a few days later in a club…he just appeared straddled himself across my legs and started pinning me against the seat forcing kisses on me, and putting his hand down my underwear…and said "Now I've got you"…my friends came over when they saw and he quickly fled".

Independent

That is, instead of putting a jar bottom directly on a jar lid so it nests, straddle a jar bottom across the rims of other jars.

WikiHow

In 2008, it helped form a partnership that eventually acquired Girard Square, a set of four buildings that straddle a full city block across the street from the Gallery.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "straddle across", ensure that the context clearly indicates a physical or metaphorical act of spanning or crossing between two distinct points or areas. For example, use it to describe a physical action like straddling a fence or a metaphorical one, such as straddling two different ideologies.

Common error

Avoid using "straddle across" when simpler verbs like "cross", "span", or "cover" would be more direct and clear. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or awkward. Choose the most concise and appropriate word for the context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "straddle across" is that of a phrasal verb, where "straddle" acts as the verb and "across" functions as a prepositional particle. It typically describes the action of positioning oneself so as to be on both sides of something while also moving across it, or metaphorically, bridging two concepts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "straddle across" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb that describes the action of spanning something while crossing it. Though Ludwig AI identifies it as correct, its usage is relatively rare, typically found in neutral contexts like news, science, and general informational writing, as shown in Ludwig's examples. When writing, ensure its usage appropriately captures the combined sense of positioning and movement; otherwise, simpler alternatives like ""span across"" or "cross across" might be more fitting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Transition across

Emphasizes the act of changing or moving from one state or place to another.

Span across

Focuses on the extent or reach that something covers from one side to another.

Leap across

Highlights a quick or sudden movement over a distance.

Stride across

Suggests a confident and purposeful movement over something.

Skip across

Implies a light and carefree movement over a surface.

Traverse across

Focuses on traveling or crossing over a particular area.

Cross across

Highlights the act of going from one side to the other.

Transit across

Emphasizes the process of passing through or over a specific area.

Overlap across

Suggests a partial covering or extension over something else.

Ride across

Implies movement using a vehicle or animal over a surface.

FAQs

How can I use "straddle across" in a sentence?

You can use "straddle across" to describe physically spanning something, as in "He had to "leap across" the gap, trying not to lose his balance", or metaphorically, like "The company "span across" two different markets to increase its revenue".

What's a good alternative to "straddle across"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as ""span across"", "reach across", or simply "cross across". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "straddle across" instead of just "cross"?

"Straddle across" is most appropriate when you want to emphasize the act of spanning or being positioned over something while also crossing it. For instance, if someone is sitting on a fence, one leg on each side, "straddling across" the fence would be more descriptive than simply "crossing" it.

Is "straddle across" considered formal or informal language?

The phrase "straddle across" is generally considered neutral in tone. While not overly formal, it's also not strictly informal. The register depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and context than the phrase itself.