broaden the idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broaden the idea" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to expand or elaborate on a concept or thought. Example: "To enhance our discussion, let's broaden the idea of sustainability to include social and economic factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Adam D. Weinberg, the Whitney's director, said that this is a moment when many artists are open to projects that have hybrid aspects of style and design or that broaden the idea of how art is disseminated.

The New York Times

To broaden the idea of context means to oppose the contextualism that reigned in Post-modern years, in which analogy and mimicry often constructed projects that gathered information of a historic or material type from the site, laid out in registers and volumetrically.

City, Territory and Architecture

Molly Shanley (2003) advocates an "equal status" view of marriage that combines a commitment to the public importance of marriage as an institution with elements of individual choice that broaden the idea of who can marry to groups that have been denied such status as a result of their subordination and stigmatization.

SEP

We helped broaden the idea of beauty.

Los Angeles Times

With the Pi Project we were looking for a way to broaden the idea of what that might mean.

Vice

There just needs to be more options for girls who don't identify with the girly aesthetic, and can broaden the idea of what being a girl means.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But the public prosecutor's office has appealed the case again, to France's highest court, saying the decision broadens the idea of private use too far.

The New York Times

And some say that the issue is not particular plant closings but broadening the idea of what a new business can be.

The New York Times

"There is definitely a trend of broadening the idea of who a gamer is," Mr. Morhaime said in a telephone interview yesterday.

The New York Times

By 2001's Vespertine she was doing everything on her laptop, and then with 2011's nature-themed Biophilia she broadened the idea of what an album could be, releasing it as a multimedia app designed as a digital constellation.

The Guardian - Music

But while Husserl used syntactic nonsense as a way of detecting differences in categories of meaning (yielding different grammatical categories), Ryle broadened the idea, taking absurdities more widely conceived to be symptoms of differences in logical or conceptual categories (1938/1971, 180).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "broaden the idea", ensure that the subsequent text clearly explains how the idea is being expanded or made more inclusive.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you will "broaden the idea" without providing specific details or examples of the expansion. Be explicit about what new elements or perspectives are being incorporated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broaden the idea" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence. It typically acts as the predicate of a clause, expressing the action of expanding or extending a particular concept or notion. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "broaden the idea" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express the expansion of a concept, making it more inclusive or comprehensive. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples from diverse sources, indicating its use across various contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While not extremely common, the phrase is valuable for encouraging a wider perspective and incorporating new elements into existing frameworks. When using this phrase, ensure that the expansion is clearly articulated with specific details and examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand the concept

Focuses on the concept itself, implying a detailed extension.

widen the perspective

Emphasizes the scope of understanding or viewpoint.

extend the scope

Highlights the range or boundary of the idea being expanded.

develop the notion

Indicates a gradual evolution and refinement of the initial idea.

deepen the understanding

Suggests increasing the depth and complexity of the idea.

elaborate on the theme

Implies providing more detail and explanation to the central theme.

amplify the message

Focuses on increasing the impact and reach of the core message.

enrich the subject

Highlights adding value and complexity to the topic at hand.

broaden the scope of understanding

Emphasis on increasing the breadth of comprehension related to the topic.

open up the thought

Suggests making the thought more accessible and inclusive.

FAQs

How can I use "broaden the idea" in a sentence?

You can use "broaden the idea" to suggest an expansion or development of a concept. For example, "Let's broaden the idea of sustainability to include economic factors."

What are some alternatives to "broaden the idea"?

Alternatives include "expand the concept", "widen the perspective", or "develop the notion", depending on the context.

Is it better to "broaden the idea" or "expand upon the idea"?

Both phrases are correct, but "broaden the idea" suggests widening the scope, while "expand upon the idea" implies adding more detail. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to "broaden the idea" of something?

To "broaden the idea" of something means to make the concept more inclusive, comprehensive, or applicable by adding new elements, perspectives, or considerations. It suggests moving beyond a narrow or limited understanding.