deepen the dividing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deepen the dividing" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of increasing or intensifying a division or separation, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The new policies seem to deepen the dividing lines between different communities."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The measure will deepen the dividing line with the opposition Labour Party, which has recently crowned a new leader, Ed Miliband, who won his position with union support and who has promised to fight austerity moves that threaten that constituency.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Anything prone to deepen the divide in the Conservative party has to be parked until after the 23 June EU referendum.

The Guardian - Opinion

Allowing "the best" universities to increase fees will deepen the divide and entrench a two-tier higher education system – based on wealth and prestige, not learning and opportunity.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The sad truth about our schools today is that, far from making opportunity more equal, they only deepen the divide between the rich and poor, the fortunate and the forgotten.

The Guardian

We now have two choices: to deepen the divides that have split open – divides of race, place, age and class – and to hate those who voted "the wrong way".

The Guardian - Opinion

Last week's tragedy could drive a wedge between violent extremists and France's Muslims, the vast majority of whom are peaceful, or it could deepen the divide between France's minorities and the rest of the country.

The New Yorker

Palestinian analysts have warned in the past that holding general elections in the West Bank alone would not produce a legitimate leadership for the Palestinian people and would only deepen the divide.

The New York Times

At a time when the United States is increasingly linking its own national security interests in the region to the inability of Israelis and Palestinians to make peace, heightened tensions over Monday's killings could deepen the divide between the Israeli government and the Obama administration just as Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu were trying to overcome recent differences.

The New York Times

The moves and statements by Iraqiya may amount to little more than posturing by a discontented political faction, but American officials in Baghdad have rushed to defuse any situation that could deepen the divide between a Shiite prime minister and a largely Sunni coalition of lawmakers.

The New York Times

If there is a perceived lack of help, the financial crisis could deepen the divide between so-called "Old Europe and New Europepe" and bring structural changes to the political landscape in Eastern Europe, such as strengthening the nationalist, euro-skeptic voices in Central Europe Czech Republic, Poland and the pro-Russian parties in the Baltic states.

Forbes

The failure of the dialogue had only served to deepen the divide between the Al Khalifa branches, Ulrichsen wrote.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "deepen the dividing". Instead, opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "widen the divide" or "exacerbate the separation" to clearly convey the intended meaning of intensifying a division.

Common error

A common mistake is assuming that "deepen the dividing" is a valid phrase because "dividing" functions as an adjective. However, the more idiomatic and grammatically sound choice is to use "divide" as a noun: "deepen the divide".

Linguistic Context

The phrase's intended function is to describe the act of intensifying a separation or disagreement. However, due to its awkward phrasing, it is not the most effective way to convey this meaning. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it's better to say "deepen the divide".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "deepen the dividing" aims to express the intensification of a separation, it is not grammatically sound. As Ludwig AI points out, using "deepen the divide" is the preferred alternative. The phrase typically appears in news and media contexts to describe increasing political, social, or economic disparities. For clearer and more impactful writing, opt for alternatives like "widen the divide" or "exacerbate the separation". Overall, "deepen the dividing" can be improved with more standard phrasing for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Widen the divide

Emphasizes increasing the distance or space between two things, metaphorical or literal.

Worsen the division

Simple and direct, indicating a turn for the worse in an existing division.

Exacerbate the separation

Highlights making an existing separation worse or more intense.

Intensify the conflict

Focuses on increasing the strength or severity of a disagreement or struggle.

Heighten the tension

Indicates raising the level of stress or unease between parties.

Amplify the rift

Suggests making a split or break more pronounced or significant.

Deepen the schism

Refers to making a formal division or split within a group or organization more profound.

Aggravate the discord

Implies worsening a state of disagreement or lack of harmony.

Increase the polarization

Highlights enhancing the division into opposing groups or extremes.

Fuel the antagonism

Suggests adding intensity to a mutual hostility or opposition.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "deepen the dividing"?

Alternatives include "widen the divide", "exacerbate the separation", or "intensify the conflict", depending on the context.

Is "deepen the dividing" grammatically correct?

No, it's not considered grammatically correct. The more accepted phrasing is "deepen the divide".

When should I use "deepen the divide" instead of "widen the divide"?

"Deepen the divide" implies making an existing separation more profound, while "widen the divide" suggests increasing the distance or scope of the separation. Choose the phrase that best reflects the intended nuance.

How can I use "deepen the divide" in a sentence?

Example: "The new policy will only "deepen the divide" between the rich and the poor."