comprehensive history

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprehensive history" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a detailed and thorough account of past events or developments in a particular subject or area. Example: "The book provides a comprehensive history of the civil rights movement in the United States."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science & Research

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moran, M. E. Urolithiasis-A comprehensive history.

Nature

But it's the only comprehensive history that's been written".

The Guardian

Furthermore, Schorske made no pretense of producing a comprehensive history.

The New Yorker

A periodontal assessment should begin with a comprehensive history.

Nature

A comprehensive history of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Washington Post

It is the most comprehensive history of that time.

The New York Times - Books

It provides the first comprehensive history of the TWUA.

Cornell University

What's Cooking America (//whatscookingamerica.net/History/IceCream/Sundae.htm) offers a comprehensive history of the ice cream sundae.

The New York Times

However, a comprehensive history of cold war aerial reconnaissance remains to be written.

The New York Times - Books

The museum offers a comprehensive history of American ships and shipping.

The New York Times

Last year in these pages, John Leonard called this an "equable, affectionate and comprehensive history".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision in academic or formal writing, use "comprehensive history" to signal that the work covers all significant aspects of the topic. This assures the reader that the account is not superficial.

Common error

Avoid using "comprehensive history" when a shorter, more focused overview is sufficient. For instance, if only discussing specific aspects of an event, consider using "overview", "summary", or "analysis" instead, which are less committal and more aligned to your content.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprehensive history" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "comprehensive" is an adjective modifying the noun "history". Ludwig confirms its role in denoting a detailed and thorough account of past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "comprehensive history" is a common and grammatically sound phrase that describes a thorough and detailed account of past events. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent appearance in academic, scientific, and news contexts. While it's a valuable phrase for signaling thoroughness, it's important to ensure its use aligns with the actual scope of the content, avoiding overemphasis when a more concise overview suffices. Alternatives include "detailed historical account" or "thorough historical analysis", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detailed historical account

Replaces "comprehensive" with "detailed" and reorders the words slightly for emphasis.

exhaustive historical narrative

Substitutes "comprehensive" with "exhaustive" and "history" with "narrative", implying a more story-like representation.

thorough historical analysis

Replaces "history" with "analysis", shifting the focus to a critical examination rather than a mere recounting of events.

complete historical overview

Uses "complete" instead of "comprehensive" and "overview" to suggest a broad summary.

in-depth historical study

Emphasizes the level of detail with "in-depth" and uses "study" to indicate a more academic approach.

extensive historical survey

Offers a broader perspective than a history, implying examination of a wide range of sources and data.

full historical treatment

Emphasizes the completeness of the discussion or coverage of a historical subject.

wide-ranging historical investigation

Highlights the scope of research involved in uncovering the historical details.

systematic historical review

Stresses the organized and methodical approach to recounting history.

elaborate chronicle of events

Shifts the focus to the sequence of events, with "elaborate" suggesting a high level of detail.

FAQs

What does "comprehensive history" mean?

A "comprehensive history" is a thorough and complete account of past events, developments, or aspects of a particular subject or area, leaving no important details unexamined.

How is a "comprehensive history" different from a regular history?

While a regular history might cover key events, a "comprehensive history" aims to provide an exhaustive account, delving into nuances and details that a standard history might overlook. A "detailed historical account" is a good example.

When should I use "comprehensive history" in my writing?

Use "comprehensive history" when you want to emphasize that your account is thorough, complete, and leaves no significant aspect unexplored. It's appropriate for academic papers, detailed reports, or in-depth analyses.

What are some alternatives to "comprehensive history"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "detailed historical account", "exhaustive historical narrative", or "thorough historical analysis".