a decent spread of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decent spread of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a variety or range of items, options, or qualities that are considered satisfactory or acceptable. Example: "The buffet offered a decent spread of appetizers, main courses, and desserts to cater to all tastes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It's easy to use with a decent spread of topics.

The Guardian - Tech

Where to sit or stand: In 2 or 3, positioning is down to sightlines rather than sonics, as each room has a decent spread of sound.

The Guardian - Music

"As none of us can accurately predict the future, obtaining your UK and overseas equity exposure, including small cap and value funds, using index funds gives a decent spread of equity holdings, including tech stocks.

Independent

The full motion video aesthetic that I detailed in a preview, here, is phenomenally realised, and while you know there's a load of green screen at play, the effect is convincing for anyone watching on as you shred through a decent spread of metal, pop, (new-fangled, indie-leaning) folk and classic rock tracks.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In proximal tibial fractures/severe plateau fractures, there is lack of space and fibular head provides not only space and but decent spread of wires, thereby increasing the crossing angle of wires.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

It's telling that Maps.Me had a decent geographic spread: Russia (18% of users), the USA (13%), Germany (7%), Italy (4%) and China (4%).

TechCrunch

It's telling that Maps.Me had a decent geographic spread: Russia (18% of users), the USA (13%), Germany (7%), Italy (4%) and China (4%).

TechCrunch

A lot of people like to bitch and moan about how in the age of realtime information, the stream moves too quickly and as a result, there's a decent chance of inaccurate news being spread.

TechCrunch

The Observer's literary editor, William Skidelsky, said that it would be "unduly rigid" to attempt to enforce "a strict 50/50 division of genders on the Observer's books pages", but added that he does "try to ensure each week that there is a decent male-female spread in terms both of the authors we cover and the people we get to review them".

The Guardian - Books

There was the wide spread to choose from, with spumante on ice and a decent range of coffee and cakes, including sfogliatelle and Neapolitan cake.

The Telegraph

What is a decent standard of living?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decent spread of", ensure that the noun following 'of' is plural to accurately reflect the idea of variety or range. For example, 'a decent spread of options', not 'a decent spread of option'.

Common error

Avoid using "a decent spread of" with singular nouns. This phrase implies multiplicity; therefore, it's grammatically incorrect to say, for example, "a decent spread of knowledge". Use it with plural nouns such as "ideas", "options", or "choices".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decent spread of" functions as a pre-modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase, describing the noun that follows the preposition "of". Ludwig confirms that this phrase is used to indicate a satisfactory or acceptable range or variety.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decent spread of" is a phrase used to describe a satisfactory or acceptable variety or range of something. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in written English, though its frequency is relatively rare. It functions as an adjectival phrase, primarily found in news and media, scientific, and wiki contexts, indicating that a sufficient range of options or items is available. When using this phrase, ensure the following noun is plural and consider alternatives like "a good range of" or "a reasonable assortment of" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a good range of

Replaces "decent" with "good", implying a satisfactory but not necessarily exceptional variety.

a reasonable assortment of

Substitutes "spread" with "assortment" and "decent" with "reasonable", indicating a fair and varied collection.

a fair selection of

Uses "selection" instead of "spread" and "fair" instead of "decent", suggesting an adequate and unbiased choice.

a satisfactory variety of

Replaces "decent spread" with "satisfactory variety", focusing on the adequacy of the range.

an ample array of

Substitutes "decent" with "ample" and "spread" with "array", implying a plentiful and diverse collection.

a sufficient mix of

Uses "mix" instead of "spread" and "sufficient" instead of "decent", highlighting the adequacy of the combination.

a considerable selection of

Emphasizes the substantial nature of the choice through "considerable", while "selection" replaces spread.

a respectable collection of

Replaces decent spread with respectable collection, suggesting that collection is worthy of respect.

an adequate distribution of

Substitutes "spread" with "distribution" and "decent" with "adequate", focusing on appropriate allocation.

a tolerable range of

Replaces decent with tolerable, suggesting something is acceptable, although perhaps not ideal.

FAQs

What does "a decent spread of" mean?

The phrase "a decent spread of" means a satisfactory or acceptable variety or range of something. It implies that there is enough of something to meet a particular need or expectation.

How can I use "a decent spread of" in a sentence?

You can use "a decent spread of" to describe a range of options, items, or qualities. For example, "The restaurant offered "a decent spread of vegetarian dishes"" or "The conference covered "a decent spread of topics"."

What are some alternatives to "a decent spread of"?

Some alternatives to "a decent spread of" include "a good range of", "a reasonable assortment of", or "a satisfactory variety of". These phrases convey a similar meaning of having an acceptable selection or variety.

Is it more appropriate to say "a good spread of" or "a decent spread of"?

Both phrases, "a good spread of" and "a decent spread of", are acceptable and convey a similar meaning. "Decent" suggests something is adequate or satisfactory, while "good" suggests something is of a higher quality. The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.