deviate widely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deviate widely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant divergence or departure from a standard, norm, or expected outcome. Example: "The results of the experiment deviate widely from our initial hypothesis, indicating that further investigation is needed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The bivalves occupy a wide variety of habitats and, as a consequence, deviate widely from the basic body plan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But then they deviate widely with Jansons specialties: Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" and Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony.

The New York Times - Arts

And on Friday, he said he had criticized the Israeli wall before the Arab-American group in October because its path was then expected to deviate widely from Israel's border into West Bank villages -- though he conceded he had not made the distinction clear at the time.

The New York Times

Updating on such conditionals can force the agent's belief functions to deviate widely from the evidentially relevant objective values of likelihoods on which scientific hypotheses should be tested.

SEP

(ETFs therefore also differ from closed-end funds, which, though they trade like stocks, can have higher fees and may deviate widely from the value of their underlying assets).

Forbes

This step is intended to select those probe sets with values that deviate widely from the mean.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In comparison, other models always predict the monotonic variation of internal temperature during the initial heating period, which deviates widely from the experimental data.

Applied Thermal Engineering

She therefore chooses to remain in a party that has put into practice policies far to the right of, and in other ways deviating widely from those espoused by the majority of the membership.

The Guardian

The GC % for the vast majority of these genes deviated widely from the genome average (table 2), suggesting that ATCC 334 recently acquired these CDS.

Genome Biology and Evolution

But that slight "no" trend at the end cannot explain why the polls deviated so widely from the actual results, especially since the four conducted on Election Day still understated the size of the "no" vote.

HuffPost

The bubble-size distributions vary widely within the contactor, deviating considerably from a standard normal distribution.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deviate widely" to underscore a significant departure; for minor variations, consider alternatives like "differ slightly".

Common error

Avoid using "deviate widely" when the actual difference or departure is minimal. Overstating the degree of deviation can dilute the impact of the phrase and mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deviate widely" functions as a verb phrase, typically modifying a subject to indicate a substantial departure from a standard, norm, or expectation. Ludwig AI shows its use in various contexts, reinforcing its grammatical correctness and utility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deviate widely" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to denote a substantial divergence from an established standard or norm. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage spans across various domains, including science, news, and encyclopedias, making it versatile for formal and neutral contexts. For situations demanding similar but subtly distinct meanings, alternatives like ""differ significantly"" or "vary considerably" can be considered. Ensure that the scale of deviation matches the context to maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

differ significantly

Emphasizes the extent of the difference, focusing on the statistical or noticeable disparity.

vary considerably

Highlights the degree of variation or fluctuation from a standard or average.

diverge sharply

Stresses a sudden and distinct split or movement away from a common point.

depart substantially

Indicates a significant departure or deviation from an established rule or practice.

stray considerably

Suggests a wandering or drifting away from a designated path or expectation.

veer off course dramatically

Implies a significant change in direction, often unexpectedly or suddenly.

swing wildly

Focuses on erratic and large fluctuations or changes.

fluctuate greatly

Emphasizes the instability and wide range of oscillations.

contrast markedly

Highlights the strong and obvious difference between two things.

differ in a major way

A more straightforward way to express significant differences, suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "deviate widely" in a sentence?

You can use "deviate widely" to describe a significant departure from an expected or normal course. For example: "The experiment results "differ significantly" from the predicted outcome.".

What are some alternatives to "deviate widely"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""differ significantly"", "vary considerably", or "diverge sharply", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to say "deviates widely" instead of "deviate widely"?

The form depends on the subject. Use "deviates widely" for singular subjects (e.g., "The result deviates widely"), and "deviate widely" for plural subjects (e.g., "The results deviate widely").

How does "deviate widely" compare to "differ greatly"?

"Deviate widely" implies a departure from a norm or expected path, while "differ greatly" simply indicates a large difference. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize a divergence or just a difference.