摘要：Goods were often transported by water in the 19th century. (19世纪，货物经常通过水路运输。 [牛津高级学者辞典]

英语常用by表达交通方式，如by bike, by bus, byplane等等。

也可以用by water表达经由水路(可以是boat或ship,或其他类型的船)，如

【例句1】They reached Naples by water. （他们乘船到达那不勒斯。 ）[牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句2】Goods were often transported by water in the 19th century. (19世纪，货物经常通过水路运输。 [牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句3】The temple can only be reached by water. (这座寺庙只能通过水路到达。) [朗文当代英语词典]

by air是“经由航空”，不管是helicopter，还是plane, 如

【例句4】It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane). (乘飞机只需要三个小时。 ) [牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句5】I'd prefer to travel by air. (我宁愿坐飞机旅行。)[朗文当代英语词典]

【例句6】Casualties had to be brought to hospital by air. (伤员必须乘飞机送往医院。)[柯林斯高级学者辞典]

【例句7】I don't travel much by air. (我很少乘飞机旅行。) [剑桥高级学者辞典]

by land是“经由陆路”，如

【例句8】We travelled by land, though flying would have been cheaper. (我们坐陆路旅行，不过坐飞机会更便宜。 ) [牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句9】It's impossible to reach this beach by land because of the high cliffs. (由于悬崖很高，从陆地上不可能到达这个海滩。 )[牛津高级学者辞典]

【例句10】The code gives the minimum standards of welfare required for the transport of animals by land. (该守则规定了陆路运输动物所需的最低福利标准。)[剑桥商业英语词典]

【例句11】Troops began an assault on the city by land and sea. (部队开始从陆地和海上进攻这座城市。)[朗文当代英语词典]

来源：对衣食住行的思考