struck a reef

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struck a reef" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in nautical contexts to describe a ship that has collided with a submerged rock or coral formation, often leading to damage or grounding. Example: "The captain was alarmed when the vessel struck a reef, causing water to rush into the hull."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The container ship that struck a reef off the coast of New Zealand a week ago and is still spilling oil into the sea seems to be at risk of breaking apart, officials say.

The New York Times

August 29th, the Pandora violently struck a reef.

The New Yorker

The tank transport ship La Moure County struck a reef off Chile, Commander Mueller said.

The New York Times

The cruise liner struck a reef in January 2012 and capsized, killing 32 people.

The Guardian

The ship, the Costa Concordia, struck a reef on Jan . 13 heeled over and foundered just offshore, with the loss of at least 17 lives.

The New York Times

His ship, the Endeavour, had struck a reef now known as the Endeavour Reef, within a manifestly far bigger reef system, nearly 25 miles from shore.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The cruise ship Bermuda Star, grounded since striking a reef near the Cape Cod Canal June 10, is scheduled to take to the seas again July 28.

The New York Times - Travel

And now an Ecuadorean tanker named Jessica, on a supply run to the Galápagos, has disgorged close to 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the ocean after striking a reef near the island of San Cristobal.

The New York Times

Workers began installing a radar tower that will be used to monitor icebergs in the shipping channels of Prince William Sound, where the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil in 1989 after striking a reef while avoiding reported ice.

The New York Times

"The oil companies' computer models tell them how many tankers will cruise the Gulf before one strikes a reef.

Huffington Post

The "Wahine storm" was an extratropical cyclone that struck Wellington, New Zealand on April 10 , 1968 so named after causing the inter-island ferry to strike a reef and founder at the entrance to Wellington Harbour, resulting in 53 deaths.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing maritime incidents, use "struck a reef" to clearly indicate a collision with a submerged coral or rock formation. This phrase is precise and easily understood in nautical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "struck a reef" metaphorically for non-maritime situations. While creative language can be effective, this phrase is strongly associated with ships and marine environments, making its application in other contexts potentially confusing or unintentionally humorous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "struck a reef" functions as a verb phrase describing an action of collision. It typically involves a ship or boat hitting a submerged coral or rock formation. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is usable in written English, typically in nautical contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "struck a reef" is a nautical term used to describe a collision between a vessel and a submerged coral or rock formation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness in maritime contexts. The phrase is most commonly found in news reports and factual accounts of shipping incidents. While the phrase can be replaced with alternatives like "hit a reef" or "collided with a reef", it's best to avoid using "struck a reef" metaphorically in non-nautical situations to prevent confusion or unintended humor. Given its clear and precise meaning, "struck a reef" remains a useful term for describing specific maritime events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hit a reef

Replaces "struck" with "hit", a more common and less formal synonym.

the vessel struck a reef

Adds the article "the" to specify the vessel.

collided with a reef

Uses "collided with" for a more explicit description of the impact.

the ship hit a reef

Combines the simpler verb "hit" with "ship" instead of "vessel".

impacted a reef

Uses "impacted" which is a slightly more formal synonym for "hit".

ran aground on a reef

Emphasizes the grounding aspect of the collision.

smashed into a reef

Conveys a more forceful and destructive collision.

grounded on a reef

Focuses solely on the vessel becoming grounded.

encountered a reef

This alternative focuses on the event of meeting with a reef, without necessarily implying an impact.

navigated onto a reef

Suggests a navigational error leading to the collision.

FAQs

What does it mean when a ship "struck a reef"?

When a ship "struck a reef", it means that the vessel collided with a submerged rock or coral formation, potentially causing damage or grounding.

What can I say instead of "struck a reef"?

You can use alternatives like "hit a reef", "collided with a reef", or "ran aground on a reef" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the boat hit a reef" instead of "the boat struck a reef"?

Yes, "the boat hit a reef" is a correct and more common alternative to "the boat struck a reef". The word "hit" is a simpler and less formal synonym for "struck".

What kind of damage can result when a vessel "struck a reef"?

When a vessel "struck a reef", it can sustain various damages, ranging from minor hull scratches to severe structural damage leading to flooding, grounding, or even sinking.