traverse across

USAGE SUMMARY

"traverse across" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the action of moving across something, such as an area or a surface. For example, "The hikers traversed across the rocky terrain to get to the other side of the mountain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

We climbed the glacier, then made a traverse across to the main path on the ridge.

The Guardian - Travel

Stephen Harris, an instructor at Chelsea Piers, describes it as a straightforward traverse across a short expanse of friendly rock.

The New York Times - Health

One of the low-hanging fruits of climbing was to do the Fitz, a traverse across the jagged range of Mount Fitz Roy.

The Guardian - Travel

A glorious hour-long ski leads us beneath the spiky Dent du Géant followed by a final steep traverse across now-frozen gelée.

Independent

"What's novel is that I'm able, with this tool, to see within our chips, to be able to follow through logical signals that are switching from circuit to circuit and traverse across the microprocessor".

The New York Times - Tech

Particular attention is paid to the number of grain-to-grain contacts (packing proximity) and to comparisons between the sum of the lengths of grains to the total length of a traverse across a thin section (packing density).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

To help create a master plan, Mr. Glines said he conducted a game analysis to identify "sensitive areas for game migration routes and calving areas that should not be built upon or traversed across".

The New York Times

Au Vieux Moulin (hotel-restaurant-megeve.com) has doubles from €175, room only The Highlands of Scotland are a challenging walking environment even in summer, but winter expeditions are mountaineering adventures, with icy steps, mixed terrain and traverses across steep snow.

The Guardian - Travel

Cape Johnson, an assault transport, let his vessel's echo-sounding equipment run continuously during long traverses across the Pacific Ocean.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

As the blast wave traversed across the panel, the observed flow separation and reattachment led to pressure increase at the back side of the panel.

Composites Part B: Engineering

Metallographic sections, chemical composition and micro-hardness traverses across the bond line are all presented as evidence of the form and integrity of these joints.

International Journal of Fatigue

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "traverse across" when you want to emphasize the act of moving or extending across a surface or area, especially when the movement involves overcoming obstacles or exploring a landscape. For instance, instead of saying 'the robot moved across the rubble,' you can say 'the robot traversed across the rubble'.

Common error

Avoid using "traverse across" when a simpler verb like 'cross', 'span', or 'travel' would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Ask yourself if 'across' is truly necessary to the meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "traverse across" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of moving or extending over a specific area. It builds upon the verb 'traverse' by explicitly specifying the direction of the movement, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "traverse across" is a grammatically correct verb phrase indicating movement or extension across an area. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts, like news articles, science journals and general reference. While "traverse" alone can imply the action of moving across, adding "across" can emphasize the direction and extent of the movement. Although a bit less frequent than similar alternatives, it’s a suitable choice for conveying a journey or passage over a surface, space, or obstacle. Be mindful to avoid redundancy by ensuring the term adds value. Consider alternatives such as "cross over", "pass over" or "travel over" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cross over

This implies a movement from one side to another, similar to traversing but lacks the nuance of covering an area.

pass over

Focuses on the act of going over something, often without direct interaction with the surface.

span across

Emphasizes the act of extending or reaching from one point to another, highlighting the coverage aspect.

extend over

Highlights the spatial reach of something covering an area.

travel over

Focuses on the journey or movement across a surface or area.

range over

Suggests a wide scope of movement, often within a defined area.

sweep across

Implies a rapid and expansive movement over an area.

move across

A more general term for changing position over a surface or area.

cover

Emphasizes the act of providing a layer or extension, lacking a specific sense of motion.

spread across

Highlights the distribution of something over an area, implying a widening effect.

FAQs

What does "traverse across" mean?

"Traverse across" means to move or extend over an area or surface, often implying a journey or passage that involves overcoming obstacles or covering distance.

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

You can use "traverse across" to describe the movement of people, objects, or even abstract concepts. For example, "The hikers traversed across the mountain range", or "The data packets traverse across the network".

Are there alternatives to "traverse across"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "cross over", "pass over", or "travel over" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "traverse across"?

While "traverse" itself implies movement across something, using "across" can add emphasis to the direction or extent of the movement. However, in some cases, it might be redundant, so consider whether it adds value to the sentence or if a simpler word like "traverse" alone would suffice.