a broad thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a broad thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is wide in scope or general in nature. Example: "The concept of freedom is a broad thing that encompasses many different interpretations and beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The simplest definition I could muster was "material contributed to a service by the public", which is about as broad as a broad thing on Broadway but hey.

The Guardian

It's really cool - even people from Oklahoma!" Despite their disbelief, the campaign has flagged up a problem that "definitely strikes a chord" with a lot of women and men: "It is such a broad thing that came from our own personal feelings and experiences and we think people relate to that".

Independent

"Longer term it's about that journey towards software accountability," says Law. "Software accountability is quite a broad thing — it really means the ability to be able to know for sure what some software did as it ran.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He said it is a broader thing and not just the players".

BBC

I didn't give her the attention and love I should have done, and I still feel that there's something outstanding between us.' Debt, you see, is a very broad thing, and the scale of the debt doesn't matter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"This is not just about Lewis County," said Bill Lotto, head of the county's Economic Development Council. "It becomes a much broader thing when you can't get goods from Mexico to Canada".

The New York Times

"If it was a broad-scale thing about bombs on airplanes without specificity, the general consensus was it did no real value to tell the public something as indefinite as that".

The New York Times

But someone gave me this album – and this is after punk, so it was quite a broad-minded thing to do in those days – with the tagline, "There you go, hotshot, with your Johnny Thunders shit – let's see if you can get your head round that".

The Guardian - Music

It's typically a broad-market thing, but typically the first leg of the economic turnaround benefits the consumer nondurables.

Forbes

But in fact, this person claimed, "she is doing those broad things".

The New Yorker

We do four broad things: CRM, F&A [finance and accounting], procurement and supply chain and we've also got a big HR practice.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a broad thing", ensure the context clarifies the specific aspect of broadness you intend to convey (e.g. scope, range, or generality).

Common error

Avoid using "a broad thing" when a more specific term would provide greater clarity. Overusing general terms can dilute the message and leave the reader without a clear understanding of the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a broad thing" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object, typically describing a concept, idea, or issue that is wide in scope or general in nature. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment of grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a broad thing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something that is general or wide in scope. As confirmed by Ludwig, while it is not a very frequent phrase, it appears across a range of sources, particularly in news and media. When writing, consider the context and whether a more precise alternative might better convey your intended meaning, especially in more formal settings. Remember that using more specific alternatives can improve the clarity and impact of your writing. The scarcity of examples suggests that alternatives should be considered for greater impact and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a broad aspect

Refers specifically to a wide-ranging feature or element.

a vast thing

Highlights the immensity or extensiveness of something.

a major thing

Emphasizes significance or importance rather than scope.

a widespread thing

Suggests common occurrence or extensive distribution.

a large thing

Focuses on the physical size or extent of something.

a substantial thing

Implies considerable size, quantity, or importance.

a massive thing

Conveys an idea of great size and scale.

a diverse thing

Indicates variety and heterogeneity rather than breadth.

a considerable thing

Indicates something worthy of attention or respect, differing slightly from breadth.

a great thing

Emphasizes the positive quality or benefit of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "a broad thing" to describe something that covers a wide range of topics or aspects. For example, "The concept of sustainability is "a broad thing" encompassing environmental, social and economic factors."

What can I say instead of "a broad thing"?

You can use alternatives like "a broad aspect", "a vast thing", or "a large thing" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "a broad thing" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a broad thing" might be considered informal in some formal contexts. Consider using a more precise term depending on the intended audience and purpose.

What is the difference between "a broad thing" and "a broader thing"?

"A broad thing" describes something that is inherently wide-ranging, while "a broader thing" implies a comparison, indicating something has become more extensive than before.