expand your options

USAGE SUMMARY

"expand your options" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when someone has a limited amount of choices and you want them to consider other possibilities. For example, "If you're trying to decide between two career paths, you should expand your options and explore other possibilities as well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Clicking the adjacent HTML Settings button will allow you to expand your options for things like embedding images in your messages.

The New York Times - Tech

On the other hand, there will be fewer deer, and even a slight increase in sunlight will greatly expand your options.

The New York Times

If all of this seems a vast idiosyncrasy, well, the word does come from the Greek, for "personal blend". So why not expand your options and concoct yourself?

The New York Times

That way, when something unexpected happens, like a major car repair or illness, you will expand your options for dealing with it.

Forbes

Looks like Apple is looking to expand your options when it comes to which of the songs you already own can be made into ringtones for an extra 99 cents.

TechCrunch

And if you think you should be able to buy any kind of gun at any time, why not expand your options to missiles and bombs too?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Always answering "and" to any "either/or" question leaves open all possibilities, expands your options and acknowledges the paradox that as a leader you have to operate in two seemingly contradictory worlds..

Forbes

This is the stage where you are expanding your options, not narrowing them down.

HuffPost

For those who love to explore, expanding your passport to the world beneath the sea vastly expands your options.

HuffPost

In addition, by curating a solid range of colleges to apply to, you are increasing your chances for success and expanding your options for where to go to college.

Huffington Post

It is not intended as a substitute for an MBA degree, but it does equip students with a broad, practical skill set that can expand your career options.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to "expand your options", be specific about how they can do so. Provide concrete steps or resources to help them explore new possibilities.

Common error

Avoid simply telling someone to "expand your options" without providing any guidance on how to do so. This can be unhelpful and leave the person feeling lost.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand your options" functions as an imperative, typically used to advise or encourage someone to consider a wider range of choices or possibilities. As Ludwig AI states, it suggests broadening one's perspective to include more alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

16%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expand your options" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to encourage the consideration of a wider range of possibilities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, from personal decisions to professional strategies. While the phrase itself is straightforward, providing specific and actionable advice alongside it greatly enhances its helpfulness. Key contexts for this phrase include News & Media, Wiki, and Academia. When using "expand your options", remember to offer concrete steps or resources to guide the individual towards exploring new alternatives effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broaden your choices

Focuses on choices specifically, suggesting a wider selection.

increase your alternatives

Emphasizes the number of alternatives available.

extend your possibilities

Highlights the potential outcomes that become available.

widen your scope

Suggests a broader perspective or range of consideration.

explore further avenues

Implies investigating additional routes or methods.

open up new vistas

More metaphorical, suggesting new and exciting opportunities.

diversify your range

Highlights the act of making your selections more varied.

enlarge your selection

Focuses on making a selection from a larger pool.

augment your resources

Suggests adding to available resources to gain more options.

amplify your prospects

Highlights the increased chances or opportunities.

FAQs

How can I use "expand your options" in a sentence?

You can use "expand your options" when advising someone to consider more possibilities or choices, such as, "If you're not happy with your current job, you should "expand your options" and look for new opportunities".

What are some alternatives to saying "expand your options"?

Alternatives to "expand your options" include phrases like "broaden your choices", "increase your alternatives", or "extend your possibilities", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "expand your options" or "narrow your focus"?

Whether to ""expand your options"" or narrow your focus depends on the situation. If you're unsure of what you want, expanding your options can help you explore different possibilities. If you have too many choices, narrowing your focus can help you make a decision.

What does it mean to "expand your options" in a career context?

In a career context, to ""expand your options"" means to explore different job opportunities, develop new skills, or network with people in different fields to increase your potential career paths.