a vast extent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a vast extent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large area or a significant degree of something. Example: "The forest covers a vast extent of land, providing habitat for numerous species."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is evident from other studies in the literature [31, 32] that small changes in the input conformation of the molecule (e.g. torsional angles and bond lengths) can affect the docking performance to a vast extent.

Journal of Cheminformatics

So far, British retailer Carphone Warehouse has agreed to sell the inaugural "Comes With Music" phone, but operators are clearly reluctant to allow Nokia to cannibalize their own services to such a vast extent.

Forbes

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts is the favorite method of green, eco-friendly production of nanoparticles and exploited to a vast extent because the plants are widely distributed, easily available, safe to handle, and with a range of metabolites (Kulkarni et al. 2011).

Cancer Nanotechnology

And this, to a vast extent, is true.

Vice

These elements embody not only the process for turning around low-achieving schools, but also, to a vast extent, the characteristics of good schools.

Huffington Post

These oceanic waters have such a vast extent of 15 to 30 million square kilometres (6 to 12 million square miles) that each bird has more than a square kilometre at its disposal and it is unsurprising that they are seldom seen out at sea.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Several studies on farmers' participation in developmental projects have reported that highly educated respondents participate to a vaster extent than their lesser educated counterparts (Azizi and Zamani 2009).

Ecological Processes

A number of studies had conducted concerning farmers' participation in developmental projects and indicated that highly educated farmers participated to a vaster extent than their lesser educated counterparts (Faham et al. 2008).

Ecological Processes

A new aerial survey of the Great Barrier Reef shows the vast extent of a "severe" bleaching event that's caused widespread coral death over the past several weeks.

Huffington Post

Economists project the Fed's efforts could reduce interest rates by a few tenths of a percentage point, a significant increment when multiplied by the vast extent of borrowing.

The New York Times

If ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden's disclosures about the vast extent of digital surveillance issued a gunshot, then the European Parliament absorbed it, and the CJEU is now deflecting it.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a vast extent" to emphasize the impressive size, range, or scope of something physical or abstract. It is especially effective when contrasting the size of something with a limited perspective or expectation.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "a vast extent" can sound overly formal or academic in casual conversation. Consider using more straightforward alternatives like "a lot" or "a large area" for everyday communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vast extent" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as an object or complement within a sentence. Ludwig shows it describes size, scope, or area. The phrase emphasizes a significant magnitude or range.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a vast extent" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to emphasize the impressive size, scope, or magnitude of something, as confirmed by Ludwig. While it's appropriate for formal contexts, like scientific and news reporting, alternatives might be preferable in casual conversation. It's crucial to use "a vast extent" when you want to highlight the scale of an area, concept, or project. As Ludwig suggests, be mindful of register to ensure appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large scale

Replaces 'extent' with 'scale', emphasizing the magnitude of something.

a wide scope

Substitutes 'extent' with 'scope', focusing on the breadth of coverage.

a broad scope

Similar to 'wide scope' but using 'broad' to emphasize inclusiveness.

a considerable area

Replaces 'extent' with 'area', highlighting the spatial dimension.

a great magnitude

Replaces 'vast extent' with 'great magnitude', highlighting impressiveness.

an immense range

Changes 'vast' to 'immense' and 'extent' to 'range', stressing variety within the largeness.

a significant degree

Shifts focus from spatial size to the degree or intensity of something.

a substantial amount

Emphasizes quantity rather than spatial size or scope.

a far-reaching impact

Focuses on the consequences or influence rather than the physical size or scope.

a widespread occurrence

Highlights how commonly something appears rather than its size.

FAQs

How can I use "a vast extent" in a sentence?

You can use "a vast extent" to describe the size or scope of something, such as "The desert covers "a vast extent" of land" or "The project involved "a vast extent" of research".

What are some alternatives to saying "a vast extent"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a large scale", "a wide scope", or "a considerable area" instead of "a vast extent".

Is it better to say "a vast extent" or "a large extent"?

"A vast extent" emphasizes a greater degree of size or scope compared to "a large extent". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is "a vast extent" most appropriate?

"A vast extent" is well-suited for formal writing, scientific reports, or when describing something impressively large or comprehensive. It might be less appropriate in casual conversation.