a wide array of instruments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wide array of instruments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a diverse selection of tools or devices, often in contexts related to music, science, or technology. Example: "The orchestra featured a wide array of instruments, including strings, brass, and percussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Since Galileo's pioneering work, increasingly more powerful optical telescopes have been developed, as has a wide array of instruments capable of detecting and measuring radiation in every region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A versatile musician, McIntyre played a wide array of instruments, including oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet and saxophones.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They also added rhythm with a wide array of percussion instruments, including a finger cymbal, expertly deployed by Ms. Rabin during "I Scare Myself".

The New York Times - Arts

A wide array of sophisticated instruments are available to assist with examinations, but a well-performed visual inspection can often reveal more information.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Digital was founded by Kenneth Olsen and Harlan Anderson, electronics engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITT), with the idea of building a family of high-performance, low-cost computers that could receive and analyze data from a wide array of scientific instruments.

Britannica

In addition, the recourse to a wide array of enclosing instruments by innovators for a single specific product (such as Round Up Ready canola), simultaneously protected through process and gene patents, plant variety rights, trademarks and the private contract that is the "Technology Use Agreement", has further complicated the delineation of the farmers' privilege.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

He included 33 different published correlation matrixes of personality disorders in his analysis, using a wide array of measurement instruments and samples.

BMC Psychiatry

But the result is a craft with a gratifyingly wide array of instruments.

TechCrunch

A wide array of economic policy instruments that are currently under the exclusive control of the Spanish government and parliament would suddenly be at the Catalonians' disposal.

The Guardian - Opinion

The store sells a wide array of Ghanaian goods, from musical instruments to tall, wooden mortar and pestles used for crushing grain.

The New York Times

The Fed also has a wide array of traditional open market monetary policy instruments to soak up excess liquidity.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a wide array of instruments", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to musical, scientific, technological, or other types of instruments. Providing specific examples can further clarify your meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "a wide array of instruments" without providing any context or examples. Readers may not understand what kind of instruments you are referring to if the context is too vague. Always provide enough information to make your meaning clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wide array of instruments" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It describes a diverse and varied collection of tools or devices. As Ludwig highlights, it is correct and can be useful to give context and clarify meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

21%

Less common in

Academia

11%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wide array of instruments" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to describe a diverse collection of tools or devices across various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans from scientific and encyclopedic sources to news and media outlets. To enhance clarity, always provide contextual details about the specific instruments being referenced, and consider alternatives like "a diverse range of instruments" or "a broad selection of instruments" to fine-tune the meaning. While the phrase itself presents no grammatical issues, ensure sufficient context is provided to avoid ambiguity. Common authoritative sources using the phrase include The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a diverse range of instruments

Replaces "wide array" with "diverse range" emphasizing the variety in a general sense.

a broad selection of instruments

Substitutes "wide array" with "broad selection", highlighting the number available.

a varied collection of instruments

Replaces "wide array" with "varied collection" suggesting different types are included.

an extensive assortment of instruments

Uses "extensive assortment" instead of "wide array", implying a large and comprehensive mix.

a comprehensive set of instruments

Changes "wide array" to "comprehensive set", focusing on completeness.

multiple types of instruments

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize the different kinds of instruments present.

various sorts of instruments

Emphasizes the different categories or classifications within the instruments.

an impressive collection of instruments

Adds a subjective assessment (impressive) while indicating a notable number of instruments.

a rich variety of instruments

Emphasizes the quality and diversity using "rich" to describe the variety.

different kinds of instruments

Focuses on the heterogeneity by simply noting different categories.

FAQs

How can I use "a wide array of instruments" in a sentence?

You can use "a wide array of instruments" to describe a diverse collection of tools or devices, such as in science, music, or technology. For example, "The lab uses "a wide array of instruments" to conduct its experiments."

What are some alternatives to saying "a wide array of instruments"?

Instead of "a wide array of instruments", you could say "a diverse range of instruments", "a broad selection of instruments", or "a varied collection of instruments" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a wide range of instruments" instead of "a wide array of instruments"?

Yes, "a wide range of instruments" is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Both phrases have similar meanings and can be used interchangeably in most contexts.

What's the difference between "a wide array of instruments" and "a comprehensive set of instruments"?

"A wide array of instruments" emphasizes the diversity and variety, while "a comprehensive set of instruments" suggests that all necessary instruments are included, indicating completeness rather than just variety.