struck a building

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struck a building" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something, such as a vehicle or object, collides with a building. Example: "The car lost control and struck a building, causing significant damage to the structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The first rocket struck a building.

The New York Times

In one case, a car struck a building.

The New York Times

One landed in an open field and another struck a building, wounding three people.

The New York Times

Last night, American or British cruise missiles apparently struck a building in the compound where Muammar Qaddafi lives.

The New Yorker

Two officers who were giving chase were hurt when their car struck a building, Detective Pentangelo said.

The New York Times

They decided to leave after an Israeli missile struck a building in Tyre that housed the civil defense agency and leaflets urged southern Lebanese to evacuate.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The frequency with which lightning will directly strike a building in a particular region can be estimated from the building's size and the average number of strikes that occur in the region.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A short time later, the police said, witnesses saw the car crash through a fence and strike a building at 121st Street and Liberty Avenue.

The New York Times

It was then that John Delventhal was coming home one morning when he happened to see a Cadillac spin out and strike a building on Houston Street.

The New York Times

In the case of the cluster munitions attack, one of the submunitions did strike a building being used by the rebels — a school where some of Haji Marea's fighters are based.

The New York Times

Militants stepped up their fight against the Pakistani government on Friday, striking a building in the northwestern city of Peshawar that belongs to the country's main intelligence agency, Pakistani television reported.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use other more specific verbs than "struck" when describing how something made contact with a building, in order to add nuances to the writing (e.g. "the car crashed", "the aircraft grazed").

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions (e.g., "The building was struck by a car") when active voice (e.g., "A car struck the building") is clearer and more direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struck a building" functions as a verb phrase, where "struck" is the past tense of the verb "strike", "a" is an article, and "building" is a noun. It typically describes an event where something has collided with a building. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "struck a building" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, primarily in news and media, to describe an event where something has collided with a building. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. While it's a common phrase, consider adding details about the subject, the manner of impact, and consequences for more descriptive and impactful writing. Alternatives like "collided with a building" or "impacted a building" may offer a more formal or technical tone, while "hit a building" is simpler and more direct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collided with a building

Replaces "struck" with the more formal "collided", emphasizing the impact.

hit a building

Uses the simpler verb "hit" instead of "struck", making the phrase more direct and informal.

impacted a building

Employs "impacted" for a more technical or forceful connotation of the collision.

crashed into a building

Specifies the nature of the impact as a "crash", implying a forceful and often destructive collision.

rammed into a building

Suggests a deliberate or forceful impact, often with a vehicle.

smashed into a building

Implies a violent and destructive collision, resulting in significant damage.

made impact with a building

Rephrases the action to focus on the "impact" itself, lending a slightly more descriptive tone.

came into contact with a building

Offers a more neutral and less forceful description of the event.

bumped into a building

Implies a minor, unintentional collision, often with minimal damage.

grazed a building

Suggests a glancing blow or a light contact with the building.

FAQs

What verbs are close in meaning to "struck a building"?

Verbs with similar meanings include "collided with a building", "hit a building", or "impacted a building", each conveying a slightly different nuance of the impact.

How can I make the phrase "struck a building" more descriptive?

Adding details about the object that struck the building, the force of the impact, and the resulting damage can make the phrase more vivid. For instance, "A speeding car struck a building, causing significant structural damage."

Is "struck a building" formal or informal language?

The phrase "struck a building" is considered neutral and appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, though more precise language might be preferred in technical or legal writing.

Are there any alternatives to "struck a building" that imply intentionality?

If you want to imply intention, you might consider "rammed a building" or "deliberately crashed into a building". These alternatives suggest a purposeful action.