across the board

USAGE SUMMARY

"across the board" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something applies to all cases or categories without exception. Example: "The new policy will affect employees across the board." Alternative expressions include "universally," "in all areas," and "for everyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It's across the board".

The New York Times

Wrong across the board.

The New York Times - Arts

Across the board.

The New York Times

"And it's across the board.

The New York Times

Win-win across the board.

The New York Times

"It's been across the board".

The New York Times - Sports

Class acts across the board.

The New York Times - Books

"I'm talking across the board".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Does "sharing" mean across-the-board cuts?

The New York Times

He's no across-the-board liberal.

The New York Times

Get across-the-board involvement.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "across the board" to clearly communicate that something affects all categories, groups, or individuals without exception. For instance, "The budget cuts will be applied "across the board"." This ensures your message is direct and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "across the board" when you mean 'mostly' or 'generally'. "Across the board" implies universality. If there are exceptions, use a more precise phrase like "in most areas" or "for the majority".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the board" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate that an action, policy, or effect applies universally. This is supported by Ludwig examples, where it describes changes impacting all categories or groups.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "across the board" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that something applies universally without exception. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's most frequently found in News & Media, Formal & Business contexts, with a neutral register. While alternatives like "universally" or "comprehensively" exist, using "across the board" effectively communicates a sweeping impact. Remember to avoid using it when exceptions exist to maintain clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without exception

This phrase highlights the absence of any exclusions or exemptions, emphasizing the absolute nature of the application.

universally

This alternative emphasizes that something applies to everyone or everything, highlighting the lack of exceptions.

for everyone

This alternative emphasizes that the application is inclusive and affects all individuals.

comprehensively

This alternative emphasizes thoroughness and completeness, focusing on the extent of the application.

in all areas

This phrase is similar but emphasizes the spatial or categorical extent of the application.

in all cases

This alternative is a more direct and less idiomatic way of saying "across the board", focusing on the application to every instance.

in every respect

This alternative focuses on the completeness of the application, covering all aspects or details.

in totality

This alternative suggests a complete or comprehensive effect, encompassing everything.

overall

This is a broader term that means "in general" or "taken as a whole", less emphatic than "across the board".

in general

This alternative is less emphatic and more suited for describing general trends rather than universal applications.

FAQs

How can I use "across the board" in a sentence?

Use "across the board" to indicate that something affects everything or everyone in a particular group or situation. For example, "The salary increase will be applied "across the board"".

What are some alternatives to "across the board"?

You can use alternatives like "comprehensively", "universally", or "in all cases", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "across the boards" instead of "across the board"?

No, the correct and idiomatic expression is "across the board". Using "across the boards" is not standard English and should be avoided.

What's the difference between "across the board" and "in general"?

"Across the board" implies that something applies to everything without exception, while "in general" suggests a trend or common occurrence that might have exceptions. "The new rules apply "across the board"" means everyone must follow them. "In general, people prefer coffee over tea" suggests a common preference but not a universal one.