broadening

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'broadening' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a process in which something is made larger or more diverse. For example: The mayor's new initiatives are aimed at broadening the opportunities available to the city's youth.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Thursday evening the ministers agreed to prolong the blacklisting of pro-Russian separatist leaders from March until September, to add new names to the blacklist by next week, and asked the European commission to look into broadening the economic and financial sanctions against Russia imposed last July.

The Guardian

Most discussions to increase revenue look at raising tax revenue – such as increasing or broadening the GST, or removing concessions for superannuation.

The Guardian - Business

Peter Vanden Houte, an economist at ING bank, said: "Growth is clearly broadening across the eurozone.

The Guardian - Business

She said the IMF supported increasing or broadening the GST rate as long as the poor were compensated.

The Guardian

You can either make your compromises in advance by broadening your party tent, as Tony Blair did 20 years ago and Cameron tried half-heartedly to do a decade later.

The Guardian - Opinion

The program is aimed at anyone interested in personal or professional development whether that be refining your skills, focusing your ambition or simply broadening your mind and gaining inspiration.

The Guardian

They are actually €590m £507mm) in debt but think they can make a profit from the deal by broadening their offer to the Asian market and leveraging Bale's image rights.

The Guardian - Sport

New songs Cause I'm a Man and Let It Happen show that Parker's palette is broadening too, to incorporate disco and swoony soft rock, but the tunes are strong enough to withstand accusations of record-collection rock.

The Guardian - Music

I would love her to experience the pleasure of a good book, while at the same time broadening her vocabulary and creativity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now I have long been in favour of broadening the GST.

The Guardian - Business

Adhering to old adages about change being good and travel broadening the mind, starting this year, from 28 February until 1 July, Nilsson and five members of his team are exploring other projects, fully paid.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "broadening", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being expanded or diversified to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "The company is broadening", specify "The company is broadening its product line".

Common error

Avoid using "broadening" in overly general or abstract contexts where the specific nature of the expansion is unclear. Replace it with a more precise verb that conveys the intended meaning, such as "developing" or "diversifying".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "broadening" is as a present participle or gerund. It functions as a verb when used in continuous tenses (e.g., "is broadening") and as a noun when used as a gerund (e.g., "Broadening the tax base"). Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

22%

Lifestyle

8%

Less common in

Sport

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "broadening" is a grammatically correct and very common term used to describe the act of making something wider, more diverse, or more inclusive. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's versatile and appears across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, formal business, and lifestyle publications. It functions either as a present participle or a gerund. To ensure clarity, it is best practice to specify what exactly is being "broadened". Related phrases include "expanding", "widening", and "diversifying", each offering a slightly different nuance. Steer clear of overuse in vague contexts; precision enhances understanding. "Broadening" is a valuable tool for writers aiming to convey expansion and diversification effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding

Emphasizes the act of becoming larger in scope or extent.

widening

Suggests making something physically or conceptually wider.

extending

Implies increasing the length or duration of something.

diversifying

Focuses on increasing variety or range.

enlarging

Highlights the act of making something bigger.

increasing

Indicates a general rise in quantity or degree.

augmenting

Suggests adding to something to enhance or improve it.

developing

Implies growth or advancement over time.

amplifying

Focuses on increasing the intensity or effect of something.

enhancing

Highlights the improvement of quality or value.

FAQs

How can I use "broadening" in a sentence?

"Broadening" can be used to describe the act of making something wider, more inclusive, or more extensive. For example, "The university is "broadening its curriculum" to include more interdisciplinary courses".

What are some alternatives to "broadening"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "expanding", "widening", "diversifying", or "extending" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "broadening the scope"?

Yes, "broadening the scope" is a common and correct usage. It means to make the area or range of something wider or more inclusive. For instance, "The project aims at "broadening the scope of research" in this field".

What's the difference between "broadening" and "deepening"?

"Broadening" refers to making something wider or more extensive, while "deepening" refers to making something more profound or intensive. For example, you might broaden your knowledge of history by studying different periods, or deepen your understanding by focusing on a specific event.