a broad spread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a broad spread" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a wide distribution or range of something, such as data, opinions, or physical items. Example: "The survey results showed a broad spread of opinions on the new policy, indicating diverse perspectives among the participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Unit trusts are invested in a broad spread of shares so the risk is reduced.

The Guardian

She is passionate about publishing a broad spread of opinions and providing a space for discussion, but is less keen on anonymity.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Having a broad spread is sensible – so stock markets, corporate bonds, commercial property, and maybe some absolute return funds," he said.

Independent

Queen Mary (part of the University of London), Reading, Durham and Lancaster all continue to provide a broad spread of single- and joint-honours language degrees, while Surrey University has started offering French and Spanish.

The Guardian

Those who want to get exposure to water could invest directly in these companies, although getting a broad spread of technologies would require a large portfolio and a lot of research.

The Guardian - Money

In the past, she has excelled with novels that use a social nexus to explore a broad spread of different people, in exactly the way that Dickens could pull the whole of London around the debtors' prison in Little Dorrit.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Silk tree, or powderpuff tree (Albizia julibrissin), native to Asia and the Middle East, grows to about 9 metres (30 feet) tall, has a broad spreading crown, and bears flat pods about 12 cm (5 inches) long.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Flow cytometric analysis of the stained nuclei revealed a distinct CM-population for H2B-mCh, while the PCM-1 staining displayed a broad spreading (Fig.  2h); the correlation between the two markers was 90%%, (Fig.  2h).

Basic Research in Cardiology

Chordin expression outside of the lineage usually showed a cluster-like pattern or a broad spreading pattern, suggesting that expression was due to leakage of the injected Wnt mRNA through a cytoplasmic bridge or that chordin-induced chordin expression (Nagano et al. 2000) occurred after the mid-blastula transition (Newport & Kirschner 1982).

Development Growth and Differentiation

Equally striking, there is a broader spread of incomes among people of the same education, occupation, age or sex.

The New York Times

Nine of those 10 are state and territory federations, and Fifa has demanded a broader spread of stakeholders be represented.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a broad spread" to indicate diversity or coverage across a wide area or range of elements. For example, "The research covered a broad spread of demographics."

Common error

Avoid using "a broad spread" when you actually mean a high concentration or limited scope. "A broad spread" implies distribution, not focus.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a broad spread" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It signifies a wide or extensive distribution or range of something, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples related to opinions, technologies, and abilities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a broad spread" is a versatile noun phrase indicating a wide distribution or range. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and usable in various contexts. While not the most common phrase, its frequency is uncommon, and it finds usage across News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. To effectively use it, remember it highlights distribution or coverage and avoid using it when you mean a high concentration. For alternative expressions, consider "a wide range" or "a large distribution".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a broad distribution

Similar in meaning but with distribution taking priority.

a wide distribution

Focuses on the distributional aspect, emphasizing how something is spread out.

a large range

Emphasizes the extent of variety or scope rather than the spatial distribution.

an extensive array

Highlights the completeness and diversity of a collection.

a comprehensive scope

Suggests that something covers all aspects or areas thoroughly.

a far-reaching extent

Indicates that something affects or influences many things or places.

a general dispersion

Stresses the act of scattering or spreading widely.

a sweeping scope

Highlights the breadth and inclusiveness of something.

a full spectrum

Implies a complete representation across all possibilities.

a widespread incidence

Draws attention to how commonly something occurs or exists.

FAQs

How can I use "a broad spread" in a sentence?

Use "a broad spread" to describe something that is widely distributed or varied, such as "The data showed "a broad spread" of results".

What are some alternatives to "a broad spread"?

You can use alternatives like "a wide range", "a large distribution", or "an extensive array" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a broad spreading" instead of "a broad spread"?

While "broad spreading" can be used as an adjective, "a broad spread" is more common as a noun phrase to describe a wide distribution.

What's the difference between "a wide spread" and "a broad spread"?

Both phrases are similar, but ""a broad spread"" emphasizes a comprehensive scope or range, while "a wide spread" highlights the extensive distribution.