vertical

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "vertical" is correct and usable in written English, and it is often used to describe something that is perpendicular, or pointing straight up and down.
For example, "The mountain wall was a nearly vertical face, and the climber had to use specialized techniques to scale it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Chris Froome bursts up the almost vertical street, and Contador can't live with him!

The Guardian - Sport

Sine and Cosine This relationship is expressed by the two most fundamental equations of trigonometry: x = r × cos θ y = r × sin θ Or, equivalently: cos θ = x/r sin θ = y/r Sin (sine) is the ratio of the vertical side (the side opposite the corner we're looking at) to the hypotenuse.

WikiHow

"One time I took LSD and some really strong weed before a concert," Pop recalled, "and it was like when the television goes vertical and doesn't stop".

The Guardian - Music

Each block had eight vertical soil stacks to take waste from toilets, basins and baths, but too little water was passing through to flush it all away.

The Guardian

Halfway down a vertical cliff face a sheep was grazing at some tufts of grass.

The Guardian - Travel

If you don't win the respect of the people you're policing, you are going to lose William Bratton Officer Peter Liang was only 27 years old and on the force for 18 months when he and his partner Shaun Landau entered the Pink Houses in East New York in November 2014 to do a "vertical search" – an essential component of broken windows policing.

The Guardian

■ The vertical wells will be 10,000ft (3,048m) deep, but between 6,000ft and 7,000ft horizontal drilling will extend a kilometre under the surrounding land to tap into the fat underground shale beds.

The Guardian

The great vertical windows, for example, which run up the western elevation like a trio of crystal chimneys, were replaced in 1947.

The Guardian - Arts

With a cumulative height gain of 14,000 metres and a vertical two kilometre climb to an altitude of 3,200m on the final stage, the TAM promises to be a truly tough race.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Condors hovered above as I descended a near-vertical slope before ascending the other side to some half-deserted 16th-century hamlets accessible only by footpath.

The Guardian - Travel

Striking the ball with a glancing blow from the inner or outer side of the toe-cap can impart significant spin to the ball about a near-vertical axis, causing it to swerve left or right.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vertical" to describe the orientation of something that is perpendicular to the horizon or base. It is often used in technical contexts, such as describing lines, planes, or structures.

Common error

Avoid using "vertical" when you actually mean "horizontal". "Vertical" refers to something that is upright, while "horizontal" refers to something that is level or flat. For example, a "vertical line" goes up and down, while a "horizontal line" goes left to right.

Linguistic Context

Vertical functions primarily as an adjective. It describes the orientation of something that is perpendicular to a horizontal plane or baseline. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous examples of "vertical" modifying nouns in various contexts, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vertical" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that is perpendicular to the horizon. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used in a variety of contexts. While the term is generally accurate, remember to contrast it with "horizontal" to avoid confusion. It is most frequently encountered in "News & Media", "Wiki", and "Science" contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider ""perpendicular"" or "upright" depending on the specific nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perpendicular

Implies a precise 90-degree angle relationship, often used in geometric contexts.

upright

Focuses on the orientation of standing straight, often used for physical objects.

erect

Emphasizes a rigid and upward stance, suggesting a formal or deliberate positioning.

plumb

Indicates perfectly vertical alignment as determined by a plumb line, emphasizing accuracy.

sheer

Describes a steep or abrupt vertical surface, often used for cliffs or walls.

steep

Suggests a sharp and inclined ascent or descent, implying difficulty or challenge.

perpendicular to the horizon

More descriptive, explicitly stating the relationship to the horizon line.

at right angles

A more general term indicating a 90-degree angle, not necessarily vertical.

straight up

A simple and direct way to describe upward direction, lacking the formality of "vertical".

standing on end

Describes something positioned vertically, often implying instability or precariousness.

FAQs

How is "vertical" used in geometry?

In geometry, "vertical" describes a line or axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. It is a fundamental concept in coordinate systems and spatial relationships. You might see it contrasted with "horizontal" in geometric descriptions.

What's the difference between "vertical" and "upright"?

"Vertical" refers to a precise orientation, perpendicular to a baseline or the horizon. "Upright" simply means standing or positioned straight up, which may not be perfectly "perpendicular".

How do I describe something almost vertical?

To describe something that is close to, but not perfectly, vertical, you can use phrases like "nearly vertical", "almost vertical", or "near-"vertical"".

Where does the term "vertical integration" come from?

"Vertical integration" is a business strategy where a company controls multiple stages of its supply chain, from production to distribution. This ""vertical"" structure contrasts with horizontal integration, where a company expands within the same industry.