English Language Learning

Language Focus

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"Came across" or "came upon"

Both "came across" and "came upon" mean to meet or find someone or something by chance, but they are used in slightly different contexts regarding tone and the nature of the discovery.

Came Across
Most Common & Versatile

Use "came across" in everyday spoken and written English, particularly for finding objects or information by chance.

  • Best for: Discovering items while doing something else (cleaning, browsing, researching).
  • Nuance: Implies a casual, often fortunate, discovery.

Examples:

"I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic".
"While browsing the internet, I came across an interesting article".
"I came across an old friend at the store".
Came Upon
Formal & Dramatic

Use "came upon" when you want a more literary, formal, or slightly dramatic tone. It suggests sudden surprise or a more significant discovery.

  • Best for: Geographical locations, physical scenes, or dramatic situations.
  • Nuance: Often implies the object was "hidden" or the encounter was sudden.

Examples:

"While hiking, I came upon a hidden waterfall".
"We suddenly came upon a bear in the woods".
"Walking down the alley, he came upon a crime in progress".
Difficulty:
Intermediate Level
Quick Practice

Choose the correct phrase for the following sentence:

"While exploring the ancient ruins, we __________ a mysterious underground chamber."

came across
came upon