a large sweep of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large sweep of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a broad or extensive range of something, often in contexts related to analysis, observation, or influence. Example: "The artist's work reflects a large sweep of cultural influences from around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Through the Blackhawk's open door, above the heavy machine gun, I watch as a large sweep of south-western Colombia opens up beneath us.

The Economist

Kuczborski, with a legal team led by barrister Ken Fleming, launched proceedings in March to have a large sweep of laws designed to cripple outlaw motorcycle clubs declared invalid.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This individual situation depicts the catastrophe of a specific historical moment - the Irish Famine - and makes it feel part of a larger sweep of human history.

The Guardian

While little things taken individually rarely make any difference in the large sweep of events, their combined effect is decisive.

Harvard Business Review

And although his work very much reflected the prevailing political and religious mores of its settings, it did not focus on the large sweep of history.

The New Yorker

The cause of the large sweep of low polymorphism in four of the subpopulations is intriguing and raises interesting questions about its possible functional significance, as well as about the origin of the many unique alleles found in the aus subpopulation.

Plosone

The arrests were part of a larger sweep in California's agricultural heartland that has sent fear through the Central Valley, where for generations, immigrants here — both legally and illegally — have picked crops.

Los Angeles Times

While native plants do not provide large sweeps of color, there are definite characteristics that make them appealing, designers say.

The New York Times

But then he realized: old-fashioned photography beats digital imaging at capturing large sweeps of the sky, making it ideal for mapping big areas where a new planet was likely to lurk.

The New York Times - Books

"We couldn't have done all that revolutionary garden design without Kurt Bluemel," said James van Sweden, who with his partner, the landscape architect Wolfgang Oehme, helped popularize large sweeps of grasses and more naturalistic landscapes.

The New York Times

So it wasn't a matter of imagining what might happen, but figuring out how a particular incident or action might reflect and further develop a certain character or characters, or else complement the larger sweep of the story.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a large sweep of", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being broadly encompassed. For instance, specify whether it refers to land, data, or historical events.

Common error

Avoid using "a large sweep of" in situations where a more precise term would provide clarity. For example, instead of "a large sweep of information", consider "a comprehensive dataset".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large sweep of" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun. It describes a broad or extensive range of something. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a large sweep of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a broad or extensive range, scope, or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While versatile, it's relatively rare, appearing in news and scientific contexts. For greater clarity, specify what exactly is being encompassed, or consider using alternatives like "a broad range of" or "a wide scope of" for increased precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A sweeping view of

Shares the 'sweeping' imagery but specifically refers to a visual perspective or overview.

A broad range of

Emphasizes the variety and extent covered, differing in focus from a single, encompassing movement.

A wide scope of

Highlights the breadth of coverage, shifting the emphasis from a sweeping action to the extent of the area or topic.

A considerable extent of

Focuses on the magnitude or degree to which something extends, rather than a sweeping motion.

A significant portion of

Highlights the substantial part of something being considered, altering the imagery from a sweeping action to a quantity.

A vast expanse of

Highlights the extensive area or space covered, changing the context from action to spatial extent.

A comprehensive overview of

Emphasizes a complete and thorough examination, differing from a sweeping action in its focus on analysis.

A substantial amount of

Focuses on the quantity or volume, altering the focus from a sweeping action to measurement.

A large quantity of

Synonymous with 'a substantial amount', shifting the focus to a measurable amount rather than a sweeping motion.

A great deal of

Indicates a large amount or degree, moving away from the imagery of a sweeping action.

FAQs

How can I use "a large sweep of" in a sentence?

You can use "a large sweep of" to describe a broad range or extent, such as "The historian covered "a large sweep of" 20th-century events" or "The artist incorporated "a large sweep of" cultural influences into their work".

What are some alternatives to "a large sweep of"?

Alternatives include "a broad range of", "a wide scope of", or "a considerable extent of", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "a broad sweep of" or "a large sweep of"?

Both "a broad sweep of" and "a large sweep of" are acceptable, but "broad" tends to emphasize the inclusiveness and variety, while "large" emphasizes the magnitude or extent.

In what contexts is "a large sweep of" most appropriate?

"A large sweep of" is suitable when you want to emphasize the wide-ranging nature of something, such as a historical overview, a geographic area, or a set of influences.