Vastly large

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Vastly large" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is redundant because "vast" and "large" convey similar meanings, making the phrase unnecessary. Example: "The ocean is vastly large, stretching beyond the horizon."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After the Leprechaun and Frog Prince (who were also apparently guest stars) criticize Brosnan for being allowed to park so close to the set in such a vastly large parking lot, Brosnan offers them a ride to their car.

Wikipedia

For a vastly large fraction of the county that has witnessed failed indictments of police officers in several similar cases over the past year -- igniting marches, rallies, protests and violent outbursts -- the decision to prosecute the six officers is an overdue acknowledgment of ongoing police brutality seemingly unchallenged by both local and federal government.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But they would have a vastly larger Farage problem instead.

The Economist

The same can be said for active galaxies and quasars, though on vastly larger scales.

Harvard University

And what about the vastly larger segment of the population who avoid such egghead pastimes altogether?

The New York Times

Coelomates have attained vastly larger body sizes than has any other group of animals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Giant companies have grown vastly larger, more automated, more global, and more powerful.

The Guardian

"The fashion world is a vastly larger animal than the fly fishing world," Mr. Whiting said.

The New York Times - Sports

Rather, H3's lower price will bring the vehicle to a vastly larger market.

The New York Times

Suddenly, a vastly larger pool of money became available to subprime lenders like First Alliance.

The New York Times

It is a vastly larger institution with trading partners around the world.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "vastly large" in formal writing. Opt for single-word adjectives like "vast", "immense", or "enormous" for conciseness and clarity.

Common error

Using both "vastly" and "large" together creates a redundant phrase. "Vastly" already implies great size, so "large" becomes unnecessary. Choose one or the other, or a more precise adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vastly large" functions as an adjectival modifier, intended to describe the size of something. However, Ludwig AI suggests it is redundant, as "vastly" already implies great size. Despite this, some examples can be found in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "vastly large" aims to emphasize size, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. Ludwig AI identifies it as such, and although some examples appear in sources like The New York Times and Wikipedia, it is better to use alternatives such as "vast", "enormous", or "extremely large" for clarity and conciseness. The phrase is more likely to appear in neutral contexts like news articles but is less suitable for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extremely large

Replaces "vastly" with "extremely" to emphasize the size, providing a more grammatically sound alternative.

Enormously large

Uses "enormously" instead of "vastly" to indicate great size, offering a stronger emphasis on magnitude.

Immensely large

Substitutes "vastly" with "immensely" to convey the sense of great size or extent.

Substantially large

Replaces "vastly" with "substantially", indicating a considerable size or amount.

Significantly large

Emphasizes that the size is noteworthy or important, offering a slightly different nuance.

Considerably large

Uses "considerably" to highlight the notable extent of the size.

Very large

A simple and direct alternative that is always grammatically correct.

Vast

Using "vast" alone captures the original meaning without redundancy.

Expansive

Focuses on the broad or widespread nature of the size, rather than sheer magnitude.

Extensive

Highlights the scope or reach of something that is large.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "vastly large"?

No, the phrase "vastly large" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because it's redundant. The word "vastly" already implies something is very large, so adding "large" is unnecessary.

What can I say instead of "vastly large"?

You can use single words like "vast", "enormous", or "immense". Alternatively, phrases like "extremely large" or "enormously large" can be used depending on the context.

Which is correct, "vastly large" or "very large"?

"Very large" is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted option. "Vastly large" is considered redundant.

What's the difference between "vastly large" and "extremely large"?

While both aim to emphasize size, "extremely large" is more standard and less redundant. "Vastly large" is often seen as an unnecessary combination of similar adjectives.