branching out

USAGE SUMMARY

"branching out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression that means to make progress in developing or expanding something, often a business, project, or idea. For example: "The company is branching out into new markets to increase profitability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're not branching out".

The New York Times - Style

Mr. Orobona is branching out, too.

The New York Times

Such branching out sounds very remote.

The Guardian - Tech

Dr. Kim is branching out beyond MacRumors.

The New York Times - Tech

"I'm seeing more people branching out on their own.

The New York Times

Patagonia isn't alone in branching out from its core business.

The Guardian

"We're branching out to even more items," Kaplan said.

The New Yorker

He recommends branching out to new geographic areas.

The New York Times

"Branding, branching out -- how can we bank on my name.

The New York Times

'Ash Wednesday' is me branching out and trying something different".

The New York Times

The company is branching out into Internet and television ventures.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a company's growth, use "branching out" to indicate diversification into new products or services. This implies a strategic move to expand market presence.

Common error

Avoid using "branching out in" when "branching out into" is more appropriate to indicate entering a new area or field. For example, use "branching out into music" instead of "branching out in music".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "branching out" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of expanding or diversifying. As Ludwig explains, it signifies making progress in developing or expanding something. It is commonly used to describe business ventures, projects, or ideas that are growing or evolving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Branching out" is a versatile phrasal verb that signifies expansion or diversification. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and business contexts to describe the growth of companies, projects or ideas. While several alternative phrases exist, such as "expanding horizons" or "diversifying operations", "branching out" provides a direct and easily understood way to express the concept of extending into new areas. To ensure clarity, it's best to use "branching out into" when indicating the entry into a new field or area. Given its widespread use and clear meaning, incorporating "branching out" into your vocabulary will enhance your ability to communicate effectively about growth and development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moving into new areas

Highlights the act of entering different fields or domains.

spreading wings

Implies increased independence and broader capabilities through expansion.

diversifying operations

Specifically relates to business context and changing the variety of activities.

expanding horizons

Focuses on widening scope or knowledge, implying a less direct action than "branching out".

exploring new avenues

Implies investigation and discovery rather than direct action or development.

widening scope

Emphasizes the breadth of coverage, less action-oriented than "branching out".

extending reach

Focuses on increasing influence or coverage, a specific type of expansion.

developing further

Suggests enhancing existing elements rather than entering completely new areas.

venturing forth

Suggests a riskier or more exploratory endeavor than "branching out".

taking on new challenges

Concentrates on embracing difficulties inherent in new undertakings.

FAQs

How can I use "branching out" in a sentence?

You can use "branching out" to describe expanding into new areas, like "The company is "branching out" into international markets."

What's a good alternative to saying "branching out"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "branching out" include "expanding horizons", "diversifying operations", or "exploring new avenues".

Is it better to say "branching out into" or "branching out in"?

"Branching out into" is generally preferred when referring to entering a new field or area, whereas "branching out in" is less common and might be suitable only if you want to talk about specializing an action, for example "branching out in new research approaches".

What does it mean when a company is "branching out"?

When a company is "branching out", it typically means they are "moving into new areas" of business, developing new products, or expanding their services beyond their original scope.