awfully wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully wide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively or surprisingly wide, often in a negative or critical context. Example: "The gap in the fence was awfully wide, making it easy for animals to escape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

His eyes are awfully wide.

Independent

We were awfully wide throughout and with the track, you never know.

The Guardian - Sport

That was an awfully wide delta-t, even for a Sox fan.

The New York Times - Science

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly seemed to cast an awfully wide and indiscriminate net in seeking out potential troublemakers.

The New York Times

"My own personal opinion is the disparity between these two areas has gotten awfully wide," Mr. Dudley said.

The New York Times

As she came out of the final turn, Beautiful Pleasure swung wide, awfully wide, enough to allow her rival Heritage of Gold an opening to run her down for the third time this year.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The most wide-open golf course can seem awfully claustrophobic, with the golfers swapping partners as if they are at a square dance.

The New York Times - Sports

The company is hosting its MAX conference next week, which would be the ideal staging ground for a wider launch, but that would be an awfully brief beta period.

TechCrunch

The novels on offer - The Dressmaker, The Bottle Factory Outing, An Awfully Big Adventure, Every Man for Himself and Master Georgie - span 25 years and a wide variety of settings and subject matter.

The Guardian - Books

Awfully wrong".

The New York Times - Magazine

Awfully quick.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully wide" to emphasize a surprising or unusually large width, often implying a negative or undesirable aspect. For instance, "The gap was awfully wide, allowing easy access."

Common error

Avoid using "awfully wide" simply as a filler. Ensure the "awfully" genuinely adds emphasis to the unexpected or problematic nature of the width, rather than being a redundant intensifier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully wide" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "awfully" modifies the adjective "wide" to intensify its meaning. Ludwig confirms its proper usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "awfully wide" is a grammatically sound adverb-adjective phrase used to intensify the description of something's width, often with an undertone of surprise or concern. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. While not overly formal, it's acceptable in many contexts, particularly within news and media. Consider alternatives like "extremely wide" or "surprisingly wide" to adjust the nuance as needed. Avoid using it as a mere filler; ensure "awfully" genuinely enhances the description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely wide

Replaces "awfully" with a more direct intensifier, maintaining the same degree of wideness.

remarkably wide

Substitutes "awfully" to emphasize the unexpected or noteworthy aspect of the width.

exceptionally wide

Similar to "extremely wide" but suggests the width is beyond the norm.

surprisingly wide

Highlights the unexpected nature of the width.

inordinately wide

Implies the width is excessive and perhaps inappropriate.

unusually wide

Focuses on the deviation from typical width.

considerably wide

Indicates a significant degree of wideness, though less intense than "extremely".

noticeably wide

Suggests the width is easily observed or apparent.

very wide indeed

Adds emphasis to the wideness, creating a more descriptive tone.

broad to an extreme

Rephrases to focus on the extent of the breadth.

FAQs

How can I use "awfully wide" in a sentence?

"Awfully wide" is used to describe something that is surprisingly or excessively wide, often implying a negative aspect. Example: "The river was awfully wide after the heavy rains."

What can I say instead of "awfully wide"?

Alternatives include "extremely wide", "remarkably wide", or "surprisingly wide" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "awfully wide" formal or informal?

"Awfully wide" is generally considered informal but acceptable in many contexts. For more formal writing, consider using alternatives like "exceptionally wide" or "inordinately wide".

What's the difference between "awfully wide" and "very wide"?

"Awfully wide" implies a greater degree of surprise or concern about the width than "very wide". "Very wide" is a straightforward description, while "awfully wide" suggests the width is unexpected or problematic.