swerved

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'swerved' is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate that a person changed direction suddenly and unexpectedly. For example, "The driver swerved sharply to avoid the oncoming car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His physical problems deteriorated further after he was out campaigning for a Cornish parliament in south-west England when the bus he was sitting on swerved and he hit his head on a metal rail.

The Guardian

His physical problems deteriorated further after he was out campaigning in south-west England for a Cornish parliament when he was sitting on a bus which swerved and caused his head to hit a metal rail.

The Guardian

Little Thomas Hassler was their busiest player, always searching for space in the crowded areas near the Argentinian goal, and Pierre Littbarski produced the game's one outstanding individual moment when he swerved past three defenders early in the second half before shooting wide.

The Guardian - Sport

Storey said it was likely that Ellahi braked when he saw the three other teenagers in the road, swerved to miss this group and ended up hitting the other two girls.

The Guardian

Letters are welcome via e-mail to [email protected] more kicks on Route 66SIR – Your special report on the future of the car (April 20th) swerved away from tackling the biggest change that will come from automated automobiles: the end of personal car ownership.

The Economist

On a lonely northern stretch, he swerved to avoid one, only to see it flattened by a lorry behind him.Earlier this year, he and a friend set up Donkey Welfare of Namibia.

The Economist

If one car automatically slammed on its brakes and swerved, it could prompt others to take evasive action.

The Economist

And if he is such a centrist, how can he subscribe, as he seemed to in Bournemouth, to a Manichean vision of a Britain divided starkly between conservatives and "progressives"?Mr Blair wants to make sense of these contradictions by claiming that Tories of the Clarke and Heseltine sort are eminently reasonable, but that in Blackpool the rest of the Tories swerved to the extreme right.

The Economist

In the days of radio, Africans could only imagine how the best teams passed and swerved.

The Economist

Now it seems that despite their threats of lawsuits, asset seizures and collective rejection of the Argentine ultimatum, the creditors swerved practically before they got into the car.Most analysts were predicting that at best 70% of bondholders would accept the offer, which closes on February 25th.

The Economist

At some point, the taxi swerved and detonated its charge.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement, use "swerved" to effectively convey a sudden, evasive change in direction, especially when avoiding an obstacle or collision.

Common error

Avoid using "swerved" to describe gradual or planned changes in direction. This verb is most effective when depicting a sudden, often reactive, movement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "swerved" is as a verb, specifically the past tense and past participle of "swerve." It describes a sudden change in direction. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is correct and common in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "swerved" is the past tense of the verb 'swerve', used to describe a sudden change in direction, often to avoid an obstacle. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and common usage. It frequently appears in News & Media and Encyclopedias sources. While generally neutral, "swerved" is most effective when conveying a rapid, reactive movement. Related terms include "veered", "deviated", and "dodged". It is important to avoid using "swerved" in contexts describing gradual or planned changes. With 59 real-world examples available on Ludwig, its usage can be readily understood and applied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

veered

Slightly more formal synonym emphasizing a deliberate change in direction.

deviated

Indicates a departure from a standard path or course.

dodged

Implies a quick movement to avoid something.

turned sharply

A more descriptive alternative emphasizing the angle of the turn.

cut sharply

A more descriptive alternative emphasizing the angle of the turn with an action

changed course abruptly

Highlights the unexpected nature of the directional change.

took a sharp turn

A common phrase indicating a sudden change in direction.

sheered

A nautical term applicable to sudden directional changes.

swerve aside

Indicates swerving to the side to avoid hitting an object.

deflected

Suggests an external force caused the change in direction.

FAQs

How can I use "swerved" in a sentence?

Use "swerved" to describe a sudden change in direction, often to avoid something, as in: "The car "swerved" to miss the deer in the road".

What can I say instead of "swerved"?

You can use alternatives like "veered", "deviated", or "dodged" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "swerved away"?

While "swerved" already implies a change in direction away from something, "swerved away" can be used for emphasis, although it might be considered slightly redundant. Consider using just ""swerved"" for conciseness.

What is the difference between "swerved" and "skidded"?

"Swerved" implies a controlled change in direction, whereas "skidded" suggests a loss of control causing a vehicle to slide. A car might "swerve" to avoid an obstacle, but it "skids" when it loses traction.