across the breadth of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'across the breadth of' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that covers a wide range of something. For example, "The business has been successful across the breadth of the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He'd been on the road for seven days, across the breadth of England, through Wales.

The New Yorker

It does not sufficiently tap into the expertise that exists across the breadth of America.

The New York Times

It found "125 systematic failures across the breadth of the federal government".

The New York Times

"We're trying to look across the breadth of his career, including prints he has yet to make".

The New York Times - Arts

This is a critical common denominator across the breadth of the electoral coalition on which our time in office rests.

The Guardian

And importantly, a diversity of disciplines is needed to carry forward knowledge and understanding across the breadth of human endeavour and concern.

The Guardian

"People realized you had to put together a lot of product lines" to compete across the breadth of the fiber optic market, he said.

The New York Times

"I'm 75," she said at a news conference in Lansing, one of several stops on a bus trip across the breadth of southern Michigan.

The New York Times

Across the breadth of the Midlands, in places of every sort, remain struggled, falling just short in picturesque High Peak in Derbyshire and big city Birmingham alike.

The Guardian

His exaggerated verbal infelicities conceal his heavyweight contributions across the breadth of his vast domain which encompasses environment, transport and the regions.

The Guardian

"We now own seminal paintings across the breadth of his career by one of the greatest artists of our time," said Glenn D. Lowry, MoMA's director.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "across the breadth of", ensure that the noun it modifies clearly indicates a wide scope or range. For example, "across the breadth of the market" is more effective than "across the breadth of the table."

Common error

Avoid using "across the breadth of" when a simpler preposition like "across" or "throughout" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "across the breadth of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase to indicate the extent or scope of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound and frequently found in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "across the breadth of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that signifies covering a wide range or scope. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news and media to scientific and formal business writing. While alternatives exist, understanding the subtle nuances can help choose the most effective phrasing. The phrase is best used when you want to emphasize the comprehensive nature of something, and it's important to avoid overuse to maintain writing clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

across the extent of

Replaces "breadth" with "extent", emphasizing the range or scope.

across the range of

Substitutes "breadth" with "range", focusing on the variety or scope of something.

across the spectrum of

Uses "spectrum" instead of "breadth", highlighting the diversity of elements involved.

throughout the extent of

Replaces "across" with "throughout", suggesting movement or distribution across the entire area.

spanning the entirety of

Emphasizes completeness and coverage over the whole area or subject.

covering the scope of

Shifts focus to the area or subject covered, rather than the physical dimension.

encompassing the whole of

Highlights inclusion and completeness, suggesting nothing is left out.

extending across

Focuses on the act of reaching or stretching over a particular area or domain.

through the length and width of

More descriptive, explicitly mentioning both length and width to indicate comprehensive coverage.

over the expanse of

Emphasizes the vastness or openness of the area or topic being covered.

FAQs

How can I use "across the breadth of" in a sentence?

Use "across the breadth of" to indicate something that spans or covers a wide area or range. For instance, "The research examined genetic diversity "across the breadth of" the species' habitat".

What are some alternatives to "across the breadth of"?

Alternatives include "across the range of", "across the spectrum of", or "throughout the extent of". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it correct to say "across a breadth of" instead of "across the breadth of"?

While "across a breadth of" might be technically understandable, ""across the breadth of"" is the more idiomatic and commonly accepted phrasing.

What's the difference between "across the breadth of" and "in the breadth of"?

"Across the breadth of" suggests spanning or covering an area, while "in the breadth of" is less common and usually refers to something contained within a specific width or scope. For example, "in the breadth of my experience" implies within the limits of my experience.