divide and conquer

USAGE SUMMARY

"divide and conquer" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a strategy of breaking down a large task into many smaller, more manageable ones. For example, "I'm feeling overwhelmed by how much I have to do, so I'm going to use the 'divide and conquer' approach and break the task down into small steps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

"Divide and conquer," he says.

The New York Times - Arts

So we have to divide and conquer".

The New Yorker

That's how we divide and conquer".

The New York Times - Food

His plan was to divide and conquer.

The New York Times - Books

"We have decided to divide and conquer".

The New York Times

("Jared and I divide and conquer," Ross says).

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Mubarak divided and conquered.

The Guardian - Books

This menu, however, is easily divided and conquered.

The New York Times

We divided and conquered the meetings accordingly.

TechCrunch

Instead, we are being divided and conquered.

Huffington Post

In other words, we were being divided and conquered.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, especially computer science, apply it specifically to recursive algorithms that split data sets until they are trivial to solve.

Common error

Avoid using "divide and conquer" to describe teamwork if the context could be misinterpreted as creating harmful divisions among people. While it is a common productivity term, its roots in political manipulation can make it sound predatory if you are referring to social groups rather than inanimate tasks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divide and conquer" primarily functions as an idiomatic verb phrase or a compound noun representing a strategic principle. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often appears as a direct object or a predicate nominative to define a method of operation. It is inherently imperative in nature, suggesting a plan of action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "divide and conquer" is a highly effective and grammatically correct phrase used across diverse fields. From the computational power of recursive algorithms to the organizational efficiency of a business team, the phrase remains a staple for describing systematic problem-solving. Ludwig AI shows that while its origins are rooted in political and military strategy, its modern application is overwhelmingly positive in technical and professional environments. When using it, ensure the context supports either a literal division of tasks or a strategic overcoming of a complex issue to maintain the phrase's powerful and decisive impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divide and rule

Focuses more on the political aspect of maintaining control rather than just overcoming a task

split and conquer

Uses a more literal verb to describe the separation of components

divide and win

Replaces the military nuance of conquering with a more general goal of winning

separate and conquer

Emphasizes the physical or logical isolation of parts

divide and govern

Highlights the administrative and regulatory intent of the division

divide and achieve

Shifts the focus toward productivity and goal attainment

divide and survive

Suggests that the division is a defensive necessity for survival

divide and expand

Implies that breaking down tasks leads to growth or broader coverage

divide and invade

Carries a much more aggressive and literal military connotation

divide and enter

Relates to gaining access or penetration through fragmentation

FAQs

How to use "divide and conquer" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a strategy, such as: "To finish the project on time, our team decided to "divide and conquer" the remaining tasks."

What is the difference between "divide and conquer" and "divide and rule"?

While similar, "divide and rule" specifically refers to a political strategy of maintaining power by preventing alliances among subordinates, whereas "divide and conquer" is more often used for problem-solving and task management.

Is "divide and conquer" used in computer science?

Yes, it describes an algorithm design paradigm where a problem is broken into smaller sub-problems. It is often synonymous with a "recursive approach".

What can I say instead of "divide and conquer"?

Depending on your goal, you could use "split and conquer" for tasks, "break it down" for analysis or "fragment the workload" for management.