a broad range of things

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a broad range of things" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a variety of items, topics, or subjects that are diverse in nature. Example: "The conference will cover a broad range of things, including technology, health, and education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"They have a broad range of things he could do".

The New York Times - Sports

Under the program, satellites study a broad range of things, including short-term weather phenomena like hurricanes and monsoon rains, and longer-term issues like global warming and the amount of radiation Earth absorbs from space.

The New York Times

Chile comes out on top, while Bolivia is at the bottom.The index takes in 12 different categories, broadly divided into what the authors call "poverty of the home"—things like availability of water and electricity, income and education—and "poverty of the environment", which includes a broad range of things from the strength of democracy to gender equality.

The Economist

And the industry tests look at a broad range of things, like ignition, heat release, ease of extinguishment, and smoke and toxic gas formation".

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Such initiatives are often new ways to give a broader range of things, and have a different feel to them, which makes them more attractive to the next generation of volunteers and donors.

The Guardian

There's a broad range of other things that we ought to do, as well.

Los Angeles Times

The group of 60 volunteers was hand-selected to offer a broad range of subjects, factoring in things like gender, body mass index and skin color (optical heart-rate monitoring has a history of being a bit unintentionally racist).

TechCrunch

"This one, genuinely, is my favourite job, without a shadow of a doubt, because actually in the arts we get – compared with entertainment – the most inspiring ideas, the most broad range of things I have ever seen, meet the most interesting people, see the best things".

The Guardian

"There's lots of different things that you can do and for me personally it really is the broad range of things that you can do with it that excites me," he added.

TechCrunch

One of the benefits of recovery is that it frees us to pursue genuinely rewarding interests, to explore and address a broad range of challenges, and the last thing many veterans of eating disorders want is to stay tethered to their past nightmare as activists.

Huffington Post

Be open to trying new things, have a broad range of strategies in your locker".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a broad range of things", ensure the context clearly indicates the nature of the items being discussed. Specific examples can enhance clarity and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "a broad range of things" as a substitute for specific details. If possible, provide concrete examples to make your writing more informative and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a broad range of things" functions as a general noun phrase, referring to a diverse collection of items, subjects, or topics. It's used to indicate a wide scope without specifying each individual element. According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a broad range of things" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a diverse collection of items or topics. As Ludwig highlights, it's appropriate for various contexts but may benefit from more specific language in formal academic or scientific writing. While the phrase is mostly found in News and Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, consider alternatives like "a wide array of items" or "a diverse spectrum of subjects" for enhanced precision. Ensure that when using the phrase, the context clarifies the nature of the items to promote clear understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a wide array of items

Replaces 'broad' with 'wide' and 'range' with 'array,' emphasizing the variety of items.

a diverse spectrum of subjects

Uses 'diverse spectrum' instead of 'broad range' to highlight the variety of subjects.

a comprehensive collection of matters

Employs 'comprehensive collection' to suggest a thorough assortment of matters.

a multitude of aspects

Substitutes 'broad range' with 'multitude' to indicate a large quantity of aspects.

a varied assortment of elements

Replaces 'broad range' with 'varied assortment,' stressing the diversity of elements.

an extensive selection of topics

Uses 'extensive selection' to highlight the large number of topics covered.

a whole host of issues

Substitutes "broad range" with "whole host" to express a large number of issues

a sweeping gamut of concerns

Uses "sweeping gamut" instead of "broad range" to show a wide scope of concerns

a complete compendium of themes

Employs 'complete compendium' to suggest a full listing of themes.

a motley collection of components

Replaces "broad range" with "motley collection" to stress diversity in components

FAQs

How can I use "a broad range of things" in a sentence?

You can use "a broad range of things" to refer to many different items or topics. For example, "The course covers "a broad range of things", from history to science."

What are some alternatives to "a broad range of things"?

Alternatives include "a wide variety of items", "a diverse array of topics", or "an extensive selection of topics" depending on the context.

Is it better to be specific instead of saying "a broad range of things"?

In many cases, yes. Being specific provides more clarity and detail. However, "a broad range of things" can be useful as a general descriptor when a detailed list is unnecessary or impractical.

When is it appropriate to use "a broad range of things" in writing?

It's suitable when you want to convey that a topic encompasses many different aspects without listing each one individually. Use it to indicate diversity and scope. For example, the study examined "a broad range of factors" influencing climate change.