ability to broaden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to broaden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity to expand their knowledge, skills, or perspectives. Example: "Her ability to broaden her understanding of different cultures has made her a valuable team member."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

When we restrict women's wider freedom, we also curtail their ability to broaden their horizons and acquire valuable language skills.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That is part of the rabona's charm, its ability to broaden the picture and increase the space available to attackers.

The Guardian - Sport

"Our ability to broaden our product and distribution base will enable us to mitigate to some extent any short-term weakness in our traditional hobby sectors," Martin said.

The Guardian - Business

As consumer-driven health care controls prices and improves quality, the government's ability to broaden the safety net for the country's 40 million uninsured will only improve.

Harvard Business Review

From the outset, Bush has aimed to run an inclusive campaign, casting himself as a "compassionate conservative" with the ability to broaden the party's appeal.

The Guardian

Mr. Newsom's electoral success in November -- and perhaps beyond -- will depend in part on his ability to broaden his appeal to voters outside San Francisco.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Such a state of affairs inhibits their abilities to broaden livelihood streams through more rewarding on-farm and off-farm schemes – a situation which directly impacts on their ability to instil climate-smart practices in their farms (Raworth 2007; Silvestri et al. 2015).

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Janrain's log-in system will allow users to offer the ability to perhaps broaden the number of users on the platform by accepting other log-ins.

TechCrunch

Mr. Crutchfield praised the ability of the theme to "broaden the definition of what the Postal Service does as a business, particularly with all the competition encroaching on its turf".

The New York Times

In a preliminary vote that demonstrated the level of support for the proposal to grant immunity from lawsuits, senators easily defeated a proposal on Monday to broaden the ability to file defective-product suits against gun manufacturers.

The New York Times

"Verhofstadt is a caretaker premier and he is studying a way to broaden his ability to run the country," said Caroline Sägesser, a Belgian political analyst at Crisp, a sociopolitical research organization in Brussels.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ability to broaden", ensure the context clearly defines what is being broadened, whether it's skills, knowledge, or perspectives. This adds precision and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ability to broaden" in overly general contexts without specifying what is being broadened. For instance, instead of saying "The program enhances the ability to broaden", specify what the program broadens, such as "The program enhances the ability to broaden students' understanding of global issues."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to broaden" functions as a noun phrase acting as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the capacity or power to expand or extend something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to broaden" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression denoting the capacity to expand or extend something, whether skills, knowledge, or perspectives. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples reveals it's commonly found in news, academic, and formal business contexts, reflecting its neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being broadened. Alternatives like "capacity to expand" and "skill to widen" offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts. Always consider the specific context to maximize impact and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to expand

Replaces "ability" with "capacity", focusing on the potential for growth.

skill to widen

Substitutes "ability" with "skill" and "broaden" with "widen", emphasizing expertise in expanding something.

potential to extend

Uses "potential" instead of "ability", highlighting the possibility of further reach.

opportunity to amplify

Focuses on the chance to increase or enhance.

scope for increasing

Emphasizes the range or extent for growth.

avenue to develop

Highlights a path or method to improve or expand.

means to enhance

Suggests a way to improve or strengthen.

power to augment

Implies an ability to increase or enlarge.

scope to amplify

Refers to the range available for increasing or enhancing something.

room to grow

Suggests space or potential for expansion.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to broaden" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to broaden" to describe someone's capacity to expand their knowledge, skills, or perspectives. For example: "Her "ability to broaden" her understanding of different cultures made her a valuable team member."

What are some alternatives to "ability to broaden"?

Some alternatives include "capacity to expand", "skill to widen", or "potential to extend", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "abilities to broaden"?

While grammatically possible, "abilities to broaden" is less common than "ability to broaden". The singular form emphasizes a general capability, whereas the plural form might suggest multiple specific capabilities.

What's the difference between "ability to broaden" and "opportunity to broaden"?

"Ability to broaden" refers to the inherent capability or skill to expand something. "Opportunity to broaden" refers to a chance or situation that allows for expansion. For example, a course can provide an "opportunity to broaden" one's knowledge, while studying diligently gives one the "ability to broaden" their understanding.