A sweeping provision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "A sweeping provision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a legal or regulatory clause that has broad or comprehensive implications. Example: "The new law includes a sweeping provision that affects all businesses operating within the state."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Both have criticised the government online; both were detained under a sweeping provision of the penal code that allows arrest for "abusing democratic freedoms" to "infringe upon the interests of the state".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The combination of broad Patent and Trademark Office PTOO) substantive rulemaking power, unreviewable PTAB decisions to institute, and a sweeping estoppel provision doomed PTAB proceedings to failure.

Duke University

Military sites are not excluded from the sweeping provision of 'anywhere'anywhere

Huffington Post

There was also an allegation of threats to enforce these sweeping provisions as part of a 'plan to employ arrests, seizures, and threats of prosecution under color of the statutes to harass' the appellants and to discourage their protected activities.

Cornell University

Jonathan Band, a Washington, D.C., attorney who represents the American Library Association, which favors open access, says the bill's sweeping provisions are a fatal flaw.

Science Magazine

Because of a lawyer's natural role as a risk manager, they tend to draft sweeping provisions which feature such phrases as "including, but not limited to" and "any and all".

Huffington Post

Many of the law's most sweeping provisions go into effect in 2014.

The New York Times

These sweeping provisions are not the kind of narrowly tailored measures required by international law.

The Washington Post

The gigantic agreement contains sweeping provisions regarding environmental regulation, pharmaceutical procurement, intellectual property, labor standards, food safety, and many other things.

Harvard University

When Congress passed the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act with the goal of protecting investors, it included sweeping provisions to encourage employees to blow the whistle on corporate wrongdoing by shielding them from retaliation.

The New York Times

Why? Part of the challenge is that sweeping provisions in US immigration law have so far allowed refugees to be mislabeled as supporters of terrorism for innocent contacts with armed groups – such as the sale of a falafel sandwich – even though the refugees are vulnerable, have engaged in no wrongdoing and pose no threat to the United States.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a sweeping provision", ensure the context clearly indicates what area or aspect is being broadly affected to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a sweeping provision" to describe minor or localized effects; reserve it for changes with genuinely broad implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sweeping provision" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "sweeping" modifies the noun "provision". This combination emphasizes the breadth and scope of the provision. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sweeping provision" describes a clause or regulation with a wide-ranging impact. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's typically used in news and academic contexts, reflecting its relevance to formal and legal matters. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies what is broadly affected. Alternatives include "a broad clause" or "a comprehensive stipulation". Ludwig's examples highlight its consistent use across reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A broad clause

Replaces 'sweeping' with 'broad', indicating wide scope but potentially less comprehensive.

A comprehensive stipulation

Uses 'comprehensive' and 'stipulation' to emphasize completeness and condition.

An extensive term

Employs 'extensive' to denote a wide reach and 'term' to suggest a specific condition.

A wide-ranging condition

Replaces 'sweeping' with 'wide-ranging', focusing on the breadth of application.

An all-encompassing mandate

Substitutes with 'all-encompassing mandate' to highlight the total coverage of the provision.

A far-reaching regulation

Uses 'far-reaching' to underscore the long-term impacts of the regulation.

A general rule

A simple alternative that indicates the provision applies broadly.

An overarching requirement

Replaces with 'overarching' to suggest the provision is dominant or principal.

A wholesale measure

Uses 'wholesale' to indicate the provision affects everything at once.

A blanket policy

Suggests the provision covers a wide area without specific exceptions.

FAQs

What does "a sweeping provision" mean?

The term "a sweeping provision" refers to a clause or regulation that has a wide-ranging or comprehensive impact, affecting many aspects or entities.

How can I use "a sweeping provision" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe aspects of laws, regulations, or agreements that have broad effects, such as, "The new law includes "a sweeping provision" that affects all businesses operating within the state."

What are some alternatives to "a sweeping provision"?

Alternatives include "a broad clause", "a comprehensive stipulation", or "an extensive term", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the term "a sweeping provision"?

It's appropriate when describing a rule or clause that has a large-scale or extensive impact, rather than a narrow or specific one.