broadly match

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broadly match" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing similarities or alignments between concepts, ideas, or data sets that are not exact but share general characteristics. Example: "The results of the survey broadly match our expectations based on previous studies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The guidelines appeared to broadly match those adopted by other big city departments around the country.

The New York Times

These results, if confirmed, would broadly match pre-election polls by Latino Decisions, NBC, Univision, Telemundo and the Washington Post.

The Guardian

"The servile behavior which characterized previous governments is not justified because the revenues and expenditures of this country broadly match," Mr. Lazar was cited as saying.

The New York Times

Not only does the decarbonisation proposal broadly match the kind of efforts climate change scientists say would be needed to avoid dangerous climate change, it also matches the level of ambition climate campaigners have been asking for.

The Guardian

The money is invested to build up private pension rights that should broadly match those they have relinquished.A reform creating a single state pension would sweep away not only S2P but also contracting out.

The Economist

He insists that LEPs are currently shaped broadly to match city regions, the future engines of growth, pointing out that they do broadly match the boundaries set out by John Redclinfe-Maud in the late 1960s, and then rejected by the Heath government of 1970-74.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

While the groups were reasonably well-matched for age and gender balance, they were only broadly matched for educational experience.

BMC Family Practice

The outcome, too, broadly matched earlier expectations.

The Economist

The price of The Economist has broadly matched inflation.

The Economist

A divide between "Latvian" and "Russian" parties broadly matches the country's ethnic split.

The Economist

The findings are broadly matched by a survey carried out by United We Stand, another of the most-read fanzines about the 20-times champions.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To make your writing stronger, ensure the context makes it clear in which respect the items "broadly match". For instance, 'The design specifications broadly match industry standards in terms of safety but not in terms of cost.'

Common error

Avoid using "broadly match" when a more precise description is possible. Overuse can obscure important differences. If there are notable discrepancies, use a more nuanced phrase or clarify the specific areas of divergence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broadly match" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a relationship of similarity or correspondence between two or more entities. It describes the extent to which things are in agreement or alignment. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is considered correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broadly match" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that two or more things are generally similar or in agreement, without being identical. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. Analysis of usage patterns reveals that it most frequently appears in scientific and news contexts. While alternatives like "generally align" and "largely correspond" exist, the best choice depends on the desired level of precision and the specific context. When using "broadly match", be mindful of potentially oversimplifying complex relationships and ensure that the context clarifies the respects in which the items match. A wide variety of authoritative sources, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Economist, demonstrate its diverse applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally align

Suggests a common direction or trend, but may not imply a direct correspondence.

largely correspond

Indicates a significant degree of agreement, but with room for minor discrepancies.

roughly equate

Implies an approximate equivalence, suitable when precision is not required.

generally agree

Focuses on the alignment of opinions or viewpoints, rather than factual data.

mostly coincide

Highlights the overlapping nature of two or more things, suggesting shared characteristics.

loosely correlate

Suggests a statistical relationship, where changes in one thing are associated with changes in another.

substantially resemble

Emphasizes the visual or structural similarities between things.

bear resemblance

A more formal way of saying resemble.

approximate to

Highlights the similarity in amount or quantity of two entities.

accord in general terms

Focuses on sharing the general principles.

FAQs

How can I use "broadly match" in a sentence?

Use "broadly match" to indicate that two things are similar in general terms but not identical. For example, "The company's goals "broadly match" the needs of its customers".

What is a good alternative to "broadly match"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use alternatives such as "generally align", "largely correspond", or "roughly equate".

Is it better to say "broadly match" or "closely match"?

The choice depends on the degree of similarity. "Closely match" implies a higher degree of agreement than ""broadly match"", which suggests a more general similarity.

What does "broadly match" imply about the relationship between two things?

It implies that there are notable similarities between two things but also that there are some differences or variations. It suggests a general alignment rather than an exact correspondence.