constraining the scope

USAGE SUMMARY

"constraining the scope" is a correct and widely used expression in written English.
It is used to describe an action that limits the range of something, or narrows down the range of possibilities. For example, "The new regulations are constraining the scope of activities that can be carried out in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In other words, contrary to Mr López Obrador's claims, Mexicans would benefit from free trade in maize.With other food prices rising too, the annual rate of inflation has edged up to over 4%, constraining the scope for interest-rate cuts.

The Economist

The prospect of universal massacre understandably puts stress upon anything constraining the scope of actions to prevent it, but the prospect of forced alterations, set-backs or radical changes to a way of life must be less threatening.

SEP

Some argue that, given the indeterminacy of the notion of harm, and the ease with which legislatures can stretch the criminal law to cover kinds of conduct only remotely connected to the harms that supposedly warrant their criminalization, the Harm Principle can do no substantial work in guiding or constraining the scope of the criminal law (see especially Harcourt 1999).

SEP

The dimension of the projection subspace r d can be estimated by maximizing ({P_{s} k)}/{left | mathbf {w}_{k} right |_{2}^{2}}) with respect to the dimension k and constraining the scope of constraint vector ({{hat {mathbf {a}}}_{k}}), begin{array}{*{20}l} begin{array}{l} {r_{d}(t)} = arg~{underset{k}{max}}{{P_{s}} k)} left/{left| {{mathbf{w}_{k}}}right|_{2}^{2}}right.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Beyond the Beltway considerations constraining the scope of policy, some economists advocate more sweeping efforts to generate new jobs by the million.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This legislative action necessarily constrains the scope of this Court's common-lawmaking discretion.

Cornell University

"We didn't want to define what a place is because we didn't want to constrain the scope of the site," Dr. Roseman said.

The New York Times - Tech

The zero lower bound on nominal interest rates can prevent sufficient rate cuts, and high government debt may constrain the scope for deficit-financed transfers. Emphasis mine) I can't help but slap my forehead.

The Economist

His efforts to constrain the scope of bankruptcy judges' authority are apparent in jurisdictional decisions like Stern v. Marshall, procedural decisions like Granfinanciera, and substantive decisions like Radlax and Law v. Siegel.

Columbia University

The requirement for benefit-cost analysis, while important, has not constrained the scope and reach of regulation.

Forbes

They don't determine the exact investments of their VC managers, but they sure can expand or constrain the scope of what a venture capitalist can do.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "constraining the scope", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being limited. For example, specify "constraining the scope" of a project, discussion, or policy.

Common error

Avoid using "constraining the scope" passively when an active verb is more appropriate. Instead of "the project was constrained in scope", clarify who or what is "constraining the scope".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constraining the scope" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As seen in Ludwig, it describes the action of limiting or restricting something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "constraining the scope" is a grammatically correct and relatively rare expression used to describe the act of limiting the range or extent of something. As noted by Ludwig, it frequently appears in science, news, and academic contexts. Related phrases include "limiting the extent" and "narrowing the boundaries". When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is being limited and avoid passive constructions for greater clarity. While this phrase is not highly frequent, it is used appropriately across various authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limiting the extent

Focuses on the degree or range being reduced, rather than the act of reduction.

narrowing the boundaries

Emphasizes the borders or limits that are being made smaller or more defined.

restricting the parameters

Highlights the specific conditions or factors that are being limited.

reducing the breadth

Indicates a decrease in the overall range or comprehensiveness.

curtailing the reach

Suggests a reduction in the influence or area of effect.

defining the limits

Focuses on setting clear boundaries rather than actively reducing the scope.

circumscribing the area

Implies a precise and often geometrical limitation of space or topic.

taming the magnitude

Addresses the scale or importance of something that's being brought under control.

moderating the scale

Suggests a reduction to a more manageable or balanced level.

controlling the expansion

Focuses on preventing further growth or increase, rather than reducing the current scope.

FAQs

What does "constraining the scope" mean?

The phrase "constraining the scope" means limiting the extent, range, or area that something covers. It suggests setting boundaries or restrictions on what is included or considered.

How can I use "constraining the scope" in a sentence?

You can use "constraining the scope" to describe actions that limit the extent of something, such as "The budget is "limiting the scope" of the research project" or "We are "narrowing the scope" to focus on key areas".

What are some alternatives to "constraining the scope"?

Alternatives include "limiting the extent", "narrowing the boundaries", or "restricting the parameters". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "constraining the scope" or "limiting the scope"?

Both "constraining the scope" and "limiting the scope" are correct and similar in meaning. "Constraining" implies a more forceful or restrictive action, while "limiting" is more general.