are sparsely distributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are sparsely distributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the uneven or infrequent occurrence of something across a given area or population. Example: "The species are sparsely distributed across the region, making them difficult to study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The essential idea of sparse signal representation models comes from the fact that SAR micromotion targets are sparsely distributed in the observation scene.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Since the input data are sparsely distributed and patchy we chose an algebraic iterative algorithm.

Advances in Space Research

Then there is Bolivia's lack of infrastructure: electricity, water, and gas are sparsely distributed, and few of the country's roads are paved.

The New Yorker

Both puma and jaguar are sparsely distributed throughout the rain forests of Central and South America, where their natural histories and their interactions are poorly known.

The Guardian

Typically, rain-gauges are sparsely distributed and research comparing rain-gauge and RADAR precipitation estimates reveal that RADAR data are often misleading, especially for monsoon season convective storms.

Journal of Arid Environments

5-HT2A receptors are sparsely distributed in the NAC compared with the STR (Appel et al. 1990; Morilak et al. 1993), whereas 5-HT2C receptors are widely distributed in the brain (Barnes and Sharp 1999).

Nature

The largely nomadic Samoyeds are sparsely distributed over an enormous area extending inward from the Arctic shores of Russia from the White Sea in the west to Khatanga Bay in central Siberia in the east.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In species in which populations are sparsely distributed, a hermaphrodite may be accompanied by one or more small "complemental" males, or the larger individual may develop into a female whereby a smaller individual attaching to it becomes a "dwarf" male.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Results show that the ACL algorithm is more accurate and robust in both determining the number of clusters and allocating input feature vectors into these clusters than the other algorithm especially with data sets that are sparsely distributed.

Egyptian Informatics Journal

In contrast, the lowest SCOS was observed in the northern part of the county, where steep hills with severe erosion problems are common and citrus orchards are sparsely distributed.

Pedosphere

These are sparsely distributed throughout all layers.

Heritage Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing spatial arrangements, use "are sparsely distributed" to convey that elements are scattered and not densely packed. This is especially useful in scientific or geographical contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "are sparsely distributed" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "are scattered" or "aren't many" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are sparsely distributed" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating the manner in which the entities represented by that noun are arranged in space or time. As Ludwig confirms, the expression is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

77%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are sparsely distributed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a scattered or low-density arrangement of entities. As Ludwig confirms, it's used correctly in English. Predominantly found in scientific and formal contexts, as demonstrated by the high proportion of examples from scientific journals and academic sources, the phrase serves to provide precise information about spatial or temporal distributions. While it is perfectly acceptable to use "are sparsely distributed", writers should be mindful of the formal tone it conveys and consider more casual alternatives when writing for a general audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are thinly scattered

Emphasizes the idea of being spread out with low density.

are infrequently dispersed

Highlights the lack of frequency in the distribution.

are sparsely populated

Focuses on the low density of inhabitants or elements.

are scattered sporadically

Underscores the random and irregular nature of the distribution.

are unevenly spread

Indicates an irregular distribution without uniformity.

are thinly spread out

Highlights the extensive area covered with minimal density.

are sparsely located

Focuses on the infrequent positioning or placement.

are patchily distributed

Emphasizes the distribution in discrete, non-continuous areas.

are intermittently scattered

Highlights the occasional and infrequent scattering.

are rarely found

Indicates the infrequency of occurrence or discovery.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as being "are sparsely distributed"?

It means that the items or entities in question are scattered or spread out with a low density, not found close together or in large numbers.

How can I use "are sparsely distributed" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe anything that is scattered or thinly spread. For example, "The trees "are sparsely distributed" across the plain", or "The data points "are sparsely distributed" in this region of the graph".

What are some alternatives to "are sparsely distributed"?

Alternatives include "are thinly scattered", "are unevenly spread", or "are infrequently dispersed". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "are sparsely distributed" in formal writing?

Yes, "are sparsely distributed" is appropriate for formal and scientific writing. It provides a precise way to describe a scattered or low-density distribution.