a sweeping study

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sweeping study" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a comprehensive or extensive examination of a particular subject or topic. Example: "The researchers conducted a sweeping study on the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Mr. Evans's ruling was issued in conjunction with the release of a sweeping study, mandated by Congress, that tried to gauge the effects of such fishing on three varieties of dolphin.

The New York Times

In a sweeping study of Medicare records, researchers from Philadelphia and Menlo Park, Calif., examined the effects of joint replacement among nearly 135,000 patients with new diagnoses of osteoarthritis of the knee from 1997 to 2009.

The New York Times

A bill recently passed in the New York Legislature would require the Port Authority to conduct a sweeping study of the cumulative noise levels and land use compatibility around the city's airports.

The New York Times

In the meantime, the bureau will continue with its plans to conduct a sweeping study on the environmental impacts of large-scale solar development on public land in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, said a spokeswoman, Celia Boddington.

The New York Times

The CDC's numbers echo a sweeping study from the US surgeon general released last November that found that 21 million Americans struggle with substance abuse.

Vice

A sweeping study of films released between 2014 and 2016 found that movies with diverse casts take in millions more at the box office than their whitewashed counterparts, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But since its release in August, "Through the Eye of a Needle," Peter Brown's sweeping study of the changing attitudes towards wealth among Christians of late antiquity, has become something of a commercial hit, selling about 13,000 copies and becoming Princeton University Press's top-selling book of 2012.

The New York Times

Konner's sweeping study follows a roughly historical outline, from the earliest prebiblical days to the establishment of the state of Israel, and tracks down far-flung Jewish communities in China, India and Afghanistan.

The New York Times

MELVIN KONNER is neither a conventional scholar of Judaism nor a historian -- two reasons, perhaps, why his sweeping study of the Jews feels so fresh and alive.

The New York Times - Books

A sweeping, important study of science and policy.

The New York Times - Books

But a sweeping new study of the Web -- the largest ever undertaken -- paints a very different picture.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a sweeping study", ensure that the scope and methodology of the study are genuinely broad and comprehensive, not just superficially so. Provide specific details to support this claim.

Common error

Avoid using "a sweeping study" if the research is limited in scope or focuses on a narrow aspect of a larger issue. Overstating the comprehensiveness can mislead readers about the study's actual contributions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sweeping study" functions as a noun phrase, where "sweeping" modifies the noun "study". This indicates that the study is broad in scope and covers a wide range of aspects. Ludwig AI validates the correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sweeping study" is a noun phrase used to describe a comprehensive and broad research endeavor. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, ensure that the study genuinely covers a wide range of aspects, and avoid overstating its scope. Alternatives include "a comprehensive analysis" and "an extensive investigation". While not exceedingly common, the phrase is well-recognized and appropriately used in formal to neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a comprehensive analysis

Replaces 'study' with 'analysis' focusing on detailed examination.

an extensive investigation

Uses 'investigation' instead of 'study', emphasizing a thorough inquiry.

a broad examination

Substitutes 'sweeping' with 'broad', highlighting the wide scope of the examination.

an in-depth assessment

Replaces 'study' with 'assessment', stressing the evaluative nature of the investigation and replaces sweeping with in-depth.

a wide-ranging survey

Employs 'survey' instead of 'study', indicating a broad overview of the subject.

a thorough review

Utilizes 'review' in place of 'study', emphasizing a critical evaluation.

a comprehensive overview

Replaces study with 'overview' focusing on summary of a topic and sweeping with comprehensive.

an exhaustive inquiry

Uses 'inquiry' instead of 'study', stressing a detailed and thorough investigation, and sweeping with exhaustive.

a complete evaluation

Replaces 'study' with 'evaluation', stressing the value of the investigation and sweeping with complete.

a holistic assessment

Employs 'holistic' to emphasize that the assessment considers the whole system or subject, instead of only parts.

FAQs

What does "a sweeping study" mean?

The phrase "a sweeping study" refers to a research endeavor that is comprehensive and broad in scope, covering many aspects of a particular subject.

How can I use "a sweeping study" in a sentence?

You might say, "The government commissioned "a sweeping study" to assess the impact of the new regulations on small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "a sweeping study"?

Alternatives include "a comprehensive analysis", "an extensive investigation", or "a broad examination" depending on the specific context.

Is "a sweeping study" different from "a detailed study"?

Yes, "a sweeping study" implies breadth, covering many aspects, while a "detailed study" focuses on depth, examining specific aspects in great detail. The former prioritizes scope; the latter prioritizes granularity.