came to include

USAGE SUMMARY

"came to include" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is typically used in the past tense to describe a gradual expansion or evolution of something to encompass additional elements or aspects. Example: Over time, the definition of "family" came to include not only biological relatives, but also close friends and chosen family members.

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The term Axis Powers came to include Japan as well.

Encyclopedia Britannica

McCarthy's increasingly irresponsible attacks came to include Pres.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It subsequently came to include all members of the European Union (EU).

Encyclopedia Britannica

But as the city grew, its aspirations came to include an arena.

The New York Times - Sports

The term came to include Arabs, Akkadians, Canaanites, some Ethiopians, and Aramaean tribes including Hebrews.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The name Brussels came to include application laces and embroidered nets.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Whereas youth once referred to high-school students, it came to include college students.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One Friday afternoon, that traffic came to include beefy police narcotics officers.

The New York Times

The small staff included or came to include John Cole, McKie, Harry Jackson and Hella Pick.

The Guardian

The lobbying effort even came to include the first lady, Senator Clinton.

The New York Times

Here, the concept of addiction came to include the notion of an exogenous substance taken into the body.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came to include" to clearly indicate a gradual addition or expansion over time. For example, "The project initially focused on data analysis, but it "came to include" machine learning techniques as well."

Common error

Do not use "came to include" when describing an immediate change or addition. Instead, use verbs like 'included', 'added', or 'incorporated' to reflect the sudden nature of the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came to include" functions as a verb phrase indicating the process of something expanding or evolving to incorporate additional elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes gradual inclusion. Examples show it used across various contexts to denote how something's scope broadened over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

33%

News & Media

45%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "came to include" is a verb phrase that effectively conveys the idea of a gradual expansion or evolution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, including encyclopedias and news media. The phrase's neutral to formal register makes it suitable for both professional and informative writing. While alternatives like "evolved to encompass" and "grew to incorporate" exist, "came to include" remains a clear and reliable choice for describing how something broadened over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evolved to encompass

Highlights a gradual development and broadening of scope.

grew to incorporate

Emphasizes the addition of new elements over time.

expanded to cover

Focuses on extending coverage or range.

began to encompass

Indicates the start of an inclusive process.

developed to involve

Suggests a process where new participants or factors are included.

extended to embrace

Implies a welcoming or accepting inclusion.

widened to comprise

Focuses on making something broader by adding more components.

progressed to integrate

Highlights a step-by-step merging or combining of elements.

shifted to incorporate

Indicates a change in direction to include new elements.

enlarged to subsume

Suggests incorporating elements into a larger or more comprehensive category.

FAQs

How can I use "came to include" in a sentence?

Use "came to include" to describe a gradual expansion or evolution of something. For example, "The curriculum initially focused on history but "came to include" literature and art."

What are some alternatives to "came to include"?

You can use alternatives such as "evolved to encompass", "grew to incorporate", or "expanded to cover" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "came to include" in formal writing?

Yes, "came to include" is suitable for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe a gradual inclusion or expansion, as seen in examples from encyclopedias and news media.

What's the difference between "came to include" and "included"?

"Came to include" suggests a gradual process, while "included" implies a more immediate addition. Use "came to include" when the inclusion happened over time. Use "included" when the inclusion was immediate.