Commonly confused prepositions part 2
Across and over can both be used to mean ‘on the other side of a line / road / bridge etc’.
There is a hospital across / over the border. (= There is a hospital on the other side of the
border.)
His shop is across / over the road. (= His shop is on the other side of the road.)
Across and over can also be used to talk about movement to the other side of a line / road
etc.
He jumped across / over the stream.
We prefer over when we say ‘on/to the other side of something high’.
He climbed over the wall. (NOT He climbed across the wall.)
We prefer across when we say ‘on / to the other side of something flat’.
We swam across the river. (NOT We swam over the river.)
Along
The preposition along is used with nouns that refer to things with a long thin shape. Examples
are: road, river, corridor, line
She ran along the road.
There are trees along the riverside.
Along and through
To talk about periods or activities, we prefer through.
She was silent all through the journey. (NOT She was silent all along the journey.)
Note that along can also be used as an adverb particle.
Come along. (= Come with me.)
Run along now. (= Go away.)