a vast extent of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a vast extent of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe a large, widespread area. For example, "The forest spanned a vast extent of land."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

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

The Relations also indicate the tremendous strategic importance of Michillimackinac/Mackinac Island as "the central point for all travel on the upper Great Lakes, and for a vast extent of wilderness and half-settled country beyond" to First Nations and Europeans (prior to the arrival of railroads).

Wikipedia

However, in all these transfer experiments, the CNS lesions induced by NMO-IgG were distinct from lesions found in human Devic's patients and in particular, failed to recapitulate a vast extent of demyelination [17].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

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

The very early elevation of CECs to a vast extent after CPR might be an indicator that endothelial damage could be the initial step in post-resuscitation disease resulting in secondary inflammatory reactions.

Critical Care

And this, to a vast extent, is true.

Vice

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

In 1529 Diego Ribero, cosmographer to the king of Spain, made a new chart of the world on which the vast extent of the Pacific was first shown.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The biblical prophet Ezekiel, in a famous denunciation of the city of Tyre (Ezekiel 27 28), catalogs the vast extent of its commerce, covering most of the then-known world.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a vast extent of" when you want to emphasize not just the size, but the broad reach or scope of something, especially in geographical or abstract contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a vast extent of" when simpler alternatives like "large area" or "wide range" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vast extent of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun by describing its size or scope. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe large and widespread areas.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a vast extent of" is a phrase used to describe something that covers a large area or scope. While grammatically correct and confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is relatively rare and tends to appear in neutral to formal contexts like news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When writing, it's important to use "a vast extent of" when you truly want to emphasize the scale or reach of something, and not in simpler contexts where alternatives like "large area" or "wide range" would be more appropriate. Remember, Ludwig provides useful examples to guide your usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a vast area of

Replaces "extent" with "area", focusing on the spatial dimension.

an extensive amount of

Replaces "vast" with "extensive", implying a large or detailed coverage.

a widespread area of

Focuses on the broad distribution or prevalence over a particular space.

a wide range of

Shifts the focus from physical size to diversity and variety.

a large quantity of

Emphasizes the amount or number rather than the spatial dimension.

a considerable amount of

Highlights the substantial nature of something, implying a significant quantity or degree.

a great deal of

Indicates a significant portion or degree of something.

a broad spectrum of

Suggests a wide array of possibilities or elements.

a significant portion of

Highlights a notable part of a whole.

a substantial portion of

Emphasizes that the part being discussed is large and important.

FAQs

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

Use "a vast extent of" to describe something that covers a large area or scope. For example, "The explorers surveyed "a vast extent of" the Amazon rainforest."

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

You can use alternatives like "a wide range of", "a large quantity of", or "a considerable amount of" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a vast extent of" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "a vast extent of" when you want to emphasize the immensity or broad reach of something, be it a geographical area, a collection of data, or an abstract concept.

Is there a difference between "a vast extent of" and "a vast expanse of"?

While similar, "a vast extent of" implies a wider scope or reach, while "a vast expanse of" typically refers to a large, open area or space.