a sweeping mandate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sweeping mandate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a broad or comprehensive authority or directive given to someone or a group, often in a political or organizational context. Example: "The new government was elected with a sweeping mandate to implement significant reforms across various sectors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The agency has a budget of about $442 million a year and a sweeping mandate that allows it to acquire "foreign intelligence" that may be of use to Canada.

The New York Times

With such a sweeping mandate, the lawmakers said the G.A.O. could expect more requests as the oversight continued.

The New York Times

It hardly amounts to a sweeping mandate for the winner — or signals a healthy level of voter engagement.

The New York Times

Jayantilal C. Shah, the former Chief Justice, is heading a commission with a sweeping mandate to examine all aspects of the Emergency.

The New Yorker

Go back to the 2008 election, and Mr Obama spoke like a man with a sweeping mandate to reverse the priorities of the Bush era.

The Economist

The country's myriad bickering sects, parties and warlords had called a truce, agreeing unanimously to elect a new president and join a broad coalition government with a sweeping mandate for reform.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The secret order gave the military new authority to attack the Qaeda terrorist network anywhere in the world, and a more sweeping mandate to conduct operations in countries not at war with the United States.

The New York Times

With that sweeping mandate he nationalised an important chunk of the economy, closed down the most popular private television channel and weakened the powers of elected state and local governments, many of them in the hands of other parties.

The Economist

Though he came into office last January with a sweeping electoral mandate for change, Mr. Spitzer's time as governor was marked by fierce combat and costly stumbles.

The New York Times

• To the Editor: Thomas L. Friedman says that even with "a sweeping political mandate" and "control of both the House and the Senate," President Obama has failed to produce the results the country needs.

The New York Times

The junta's security forces exceeded even that sweeping mandate when targeting dissidents for elimination.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sweeping mandate" to describe situations where a leader or organization has been given broad authority to act, typically following an election or significant event. It suggests that their actions will likely have widespread effects.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a sweeping mandate" implies unlimited power. While it grants significant authority, it's usually still subject to legal and ethical constraints.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sweeping mandate" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the extent and nature of authority granted to an individual or group. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sweeping mandate" is a phrase used to describe broad authority or permission to act, often in the context of political or organizational change. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It's important to remember that, while "a sweeping mandate" suggests significant power, it does not imply unlimited authority. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources and is suitable for neutral to formal registers. Consider alternatives like "a broad mandate" or "an overwhelming endorsement" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Using "a sweeping mandate" effectively requires understanding its scope and avoiding the assumption of unrestricted power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a broad mandate

Emphasizes the extensive scope of the authorization.

an overwhelming endorsement

Highlights the strong level of approval received.

a clear authorization

Focuses on the unambiguous nature of the permission granted.

a comprehensive approval

Stresses the thorough and all-encompassing nature of the agreement.

a decisive victory

Indicates a win that provides strong support for action.

a strong backing

Highlights the robust support received for a particular cause or action.

a firm endorsement

Implies a solid and unwavering level of support.

an extensive authority

Emphasizes the wide-ranging powers that have been granted.

a carte blanche

Suggests unlimited authority or freedom to act.

a popular mandate

Focuses on the support coming directly from the people.

FAQs

How to use "a sweeping mandate" in a sentence?

You can use "a sweeping mandate" to describe a situation where someone has broad authority to act. For example, "The newly elected president has "a sweeping mandate" to reform the healthcare system."

What can I say instead of "a sweeping mandate"?

You can use alternatives like "a broad mandate", "an overwhelming endorsement", or "a clear authorization depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a sweeping mandate" or "a sweeping order"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. "A sweeping mandate" implies broad support or authorization, while "a sweeping order" refers to a wide-ranging directive or command.

What's the difference between "a mandate" and "a sweeping mandate"?

"A mandate" simply indicates authorization to act. "A sweeping mandate" specifies that the authorization is broad and comprehensive in scope, suggesting strong support for significant changes.