a widespread increase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a widespread increase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or extensive rise in something, such as a trend, statistic, or phenomenon. Example: "The report highlighted a widespread increase in the use of renewable energy sources across the globe."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Denny, S. K. et al. Nfib promotes metastasis through a widespread increase in chromatin accessibility.

Nature

Still, claims will have to keep falling to signal a widespread increase in hiring.

The New York Times

(3) Any change of side or finger is associated with a widespread increase of negativity over the left hemisphere.

Clinical Neurophysiology

There doesn't seem (yet) to have been a widespread increase in terrorism, nor a consequent Arab insurgency; in fact, we have a fragile ceasefire in Palestine.

The Guardian

The FAO said it has seen a widespread increase in demand for food aid over the past few years, largely due to failing harvests and rising food prices.

The Guardian

It has been proposed that high level of oncogenic MYC elicits RNA amplification by inducing a widespread increase of transcription elongation of the pre-existing active genes.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

While drug use has always existed in human society, a sudden, widespread increase in addiction, suicide and multiple-drug overdose cannot just be a result of flashy ads and increased availability of numbing substances.

Vice

We did not observe an obvious increase in expression in the opposite side of the head over that of the surrounding tissue, although there may have been a more widespread increase in expression that included this region.

BMC Genomics

Furthermore, the absence of a significant widespread increase in nitrotyrosine levels in the coronary vessels and myocardium of diabetic rats in this study suggests that oxidative stress is not yet contributing appreciably to ROCK-mediated vasoconstriction at this time point.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Considering how commonly it occurs in late life, what gives rise to dementia may be less the nature of the damage than a more widespread increase in recovery time.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

While the extent and location of specific histone modifications in zebrafish is not consistent between recent studies (Vastenhouw et al., 2010; Lindeman et al., 2011), a general widespread increase in histone methylation (H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K36me3, and H3K9me3) is evident at the MZT.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or changes, use "a widespread increase" to convey that the rise is not limited to specific instances but is generally observed across a broad scope.

Common error

Avoid pairing "a widespread increase" with weak verbs like "see" or "notice". Instead, use stronger verbs such as "drive", "fuel", or "precipitate" to convey the impact of the increase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a widespread increase" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes a general rise or growth. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it often introduces a description of a trend, statistic, or phenomenon.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

38%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a widespread increase" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to describe a general rise or growth observed across a broad scope. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is particularly frequent in scientific and news-related contexts, and it's crucial to pair it with strong verbs to emphasize the impact of the increase. While alternatives like "a ubiquitous increase" or "a significant rise" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you aim to convey. When using this phrase, consider the context and ensure the selected verb reflects the magnitude and effect of the described trend.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a widespread rise

Using "rise" instead of "increase" provides a direct synonym with nearly identical meaning.

a ubiquitous increase

Replaces "widespread" with "ubiquitous", suggesting an increase that is present everywhere.

a prevalent increase

Substitutes "widespread" with "prevalent", indicating a common or predominant increase.

a broad increase

Substituting "widespread" with "broad" indicates a wide-ranging increase.

a considerable increase

Replaces "widespread" with "considerable", focusing on the significance of the increase rather than its distribution.

a generalised increase

Using "generalised" instead of "widespread" suggests the increase is broad and not specific to certain areas.

a wider increase

Changing "widespread" to "wider" suggests the increase has affected a broader scope.

a vast increase

Replaces "widespread" with "vast", emphasizing the scale or magnitude of the increase.

a large scale increase

Replaces "widespread" with "large scale" focusing the dimensions/proportions of the increase.

a massive increase

The word massive emphasizes the extent to the increase.

FAQs

How can I use "a widespread increase" in a sentence?

You can use "a widespread increase" to describe a general rise or growth observed across a broad scope. For example: "There has been "a widespread increase" in the use of renewable energy sources."

What are some alternatives to "a widespread increase"?

Alternatives include "a ubiquitous increase", "a prevalent increase", or "a considerable increase" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "widespread increase" or "significant increase"?

Both are correct, but "widespread increase" emphasizes the breadth of the increase, while "significant increase" highlights the magnitude or importance of the increase. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

Can "a widespread increase" apply to both positive and negative trends?

Yes, "a widespread increase" can describe both positive (e.g. in literacy rates) and negative trends (e.g. in unemployment). The phrase itself is neutral; the context determines the valence.