a narrower breadth of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a narrower breadth of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a limited range or scope of something, often in a comparative context. Example: "The study focused on a narrower breadth of topics compared to previous research."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The temporal items assess a narrower breadth of abilities at a relatively modest degree of impairment and therefore would be best suited to identifying change within this range of cognition.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nested genes are expressed in significantly fewer tissues (have narrower breadth of expression) than either including genes or control genes (table 2).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Because nested genes have significantly narrower breadth of expression (see earlier), and, accordingly, nested genes are more likely to be expressed in a subset of tissues of including genes by chance.

Genome Biology and Evolution

For instance, evolutionary history, in combination with ecological heterogeneity, should shape taxonomic diversity of hosts and thus modulate the opportunity for parasites to exploit a wide or narrow breadth of hosts.

Evolutionary Applications

Then there's the surprisingly narrow breadth of the securities scrutinized by the Justice Department.

The New York Times

The agency partners are concerned about the narrow breadth of their client base, which is not helped by Don coming across as less than sympathetic in an interview with a trade magazine.

Wikipedia

Our best hypothesis is that technical differences between these two sequencing chemistries, including sequencing bias, differences in library construction, and assembly characteristics underlie the unexpectedly narrow breadth of the G. arboreum EST collection.

BMC Genomics

So there's activity across the whole strata of investments that suggests yes, we have a broadening and a narrowing of breadth.

Forbes

In addition, the invasive lineages were marked by a narrowing of breadth in the reaction norms.

Evolutionary Applications

We have shown that vespertilionid bats of conservation concern are likely to have a narrower dietary breadth than species of least concern.

Plosone

Second, an invasive genotype may opportunistically take advantage of a favorable environmental condition, sacrificing robustness and leading to a narrower niche breadth (Fig. 1B: Master-of-some).

Evolutionary Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a narrower breadth of", ensure you clearly define what is being narrowed and why it is significant in your context. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "a narrower breadth of" when you simply mean "less" or "fewer". "Breadth" specifically refers to the scope or range, not the quantity. Make sure that you are talking about range or scope and not about something else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a narrower breadth of" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating a more limited or restricted scope. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it's used to qualify nouns like "abilities", "expression", and "securities".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a narrower breadth of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a more limited scope or range of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, indicating its suitability for formal and objective communication. While similar phrases like "a smaller range of" or "a more limited scope of" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, ensure you're accurately describing a reduction in scope or range, not simply quantity, to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller range of

Emphasizes a reduction in the extent or variety of something.

a more limited scope of

Highlights the restriction in the area or subject matter covered.

a reduced extent of

Focuses on the decrease in the degree or amount of something.

a constricted width of

Implies a physical or metaphorical narrowing of something's breadth.

a more focused area of

Suggests a sharper concentration on a specific subject or field.

a curtailed scope of

Indicates that the scope has been shortened or cut back.

a diminutive scale of

Emphasizes that something exists on a smaller or reduced scale.

a slimmed-down version of

Highlights a reduced or streamlined version of something else.

a concentrated field of

Implies a stronger focus within a particular area of interest.

a refined spectrum of

Suggests a more precise or carefully selected set of elements or aspects.

FAQs

How can I use "a narrower breadth of" in a sentence?

You can use "a narrower breadth of" to describe a more limited range or scope of something. For example, "The research examined "a narrower breadth of" topics compared to the previous study".

What are some alternatives to "a narrower breadth of"?

Alternatives include "a smaller range of", "a more limited scope of", or "a reduced extent of". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a narrower breadth of" or should I use "a smaller breadth of"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "narrower" is typically used to describe scope or range, whereas "smaller" is generally used to describe size or quantity. Using "a narrower breadth of" is more appropriate when discussing the extent of something.

What's the difference between "a narrower breadth of" and "a narrower range of"?

Both phrases are similar, but "breadth" often implies a wider, more comprehensive scope than "range". Using "a narrower breadth of" suggests a limitation in the overall scope or variety, while "a narrower range of" might refer to a specific set of options or choices within that scope.