a wide-ranging effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wide-ranging effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an impact that is extensive or affects many areas or aspects. Example: "The new policy had a wide-ranging effect on the community, influencing everything from education to public health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

ADHD in adulthood is the persistence of a childhood condition which has often had a wide-ranging effect on an individual's emotional, social and cognitive development.

BMC Psychiatry

The implication of this finding is that the dorsal horn inhibition from SMT did not have a wide-ranging effect on peripheral input received from lumbar and cervical dermatomes.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Despite the wide-ranging effect of relaxin, the expression patterns of Rxfp1 and 2 during facial development have not been examined.

Archives of Oral Biology

Will this installment have the same wide-ranging effect as its predecessors?

Vice

Off-target or unwanted effects pose a particular problem when a new class has wide-ranging effects.

Diabetes Care

A strike could have wide-ranging effects.

The New York Times

PARIS, May 11 — Resisting pressure from business, French lawmakers have moved the country a step closer to a copyright law that would have wide-ranging effects on those selling or listening to digital music.

The New York Times - Tech

"It is a storm that has brought wide-ranging effects, from heavy snow and ice to severe weather, including strong winds and hail down South," said Joey Picca, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

The New York Times

DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mark known to have wide-ranging effects on gene regulation in a variety of animal taxa.

Genome Biology and Evolution

HIF is a major regulator of homeostasis and has wide-ranging effects: from the cellular level to a local level (for example, in a tumour) to systemic effects across the entire organism.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Unfortunately for those trying to use alcohol for depression management, its wide-ranging effects make it a double-edged sword.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a wide-ranging effect", ensure the context clearly demonstrates the multiple areas or aspects influenced. Provide specific examples to illustrate the breadth of the effect.

Common error

Avoid using "a wide-ranging effect" if the actual impact is limited to a single area or a small number of related aspects. Ensure the scale of the effect genuinely warrants the descriptor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wide-ranging effect" functions as a noun phrase that describes the extent of an impact or consequence. It suggests that the effect is not limited to a single area but extends across multiple domains. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wide-ranging effect" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe impacts that span multiple areas. As Ludwig highlights, its usage is correct and applicable across various contexts, particularly in science and news media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context supports the claim of a broad scope and provide specific examples to illustrate the extent of the effect. While the phrase is relatively rare, choosing semantically similar alternatives like "a far-reaching consequence" or "a broad impact" can sometimes enhance clarity or fit the tone of your writing more precisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a far-reaching consequence

Replaces "effect" with "consequence" and emphasizes the extent to which the consequence is felt.

a broad impact

Substitutes "wide-ranging" with "broad", keeping the core meaning but with a simpler construction.

an extensive influence

Replaces "effect" with "influence" and "wide-ranging" with "extensive", highlighting the reach of the influence.

a comprehensive result

Uses "comprehensive" to denote thoroughness and completeness of the result.

a sweeping change

Emphasizes the scale and suddenness of the change.

a widespread impact

Focuses on how extensively the impact is distributed.

a considerable influence

Indicates a notable degree of influence.

a significant outcome

Highlights the importance of the outcome.

a substantial effect

Stresses the size and importance of the effect.

a pervasive influence

Highlights the extent to which influence penetrates or spreads throughout.

FAQs

How can I use "a wide-ranging effect" in a sentence?

Use "a wide-ranging effect" to describe something that influences many different things. For example: "The policy change had "a wide-ranging effect" on the economy."

What are some alternatives to "a wide-ranging effect"?

Alternatives include "a broad impact", "an extensive influence", or "a far-reaching consequence" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "a wide-ranging effect" formal or informal?

"A wide-ranging effect" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might consider stronger alternatives like "a profound impact".

What's the difference between "a wide-ranging effect" and "a widespread effect"?

"A wide-ranging effect" implies influence over many different areas or aspects, while "a widespread effect" suggests the influence is distributed across a large area or population. The former is about scope, the latter about distribution.