expanses

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expanses" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun used to refer to a vast area, especially one that is open and unoccupied, or a large amount of money or resources. For example: The two countries have agreed to a peace treaty to avoid further expanse of conflict.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Agricultural toil and westward expansion brought droves of ordinary people into intimate contact with vast expanses of pristine lands.

The Economist

Barú offers gorgeous expanses of white sand but can get busy with day-trippers; this house circumvents the problem with a private beach.

The Guardian - Travel

At the end of the long day's walk under the searing Moroccan sun, across endless expanses of sand, the Berbers slowed their camel and stopped.

The Guardian - Travel

The Australis sails from Punta Arenas, a town of many monuments and abundant rain, through channels and straits bordered by mountains that still bear the glaciers that shaped them, sometimes presenting nothing more than vast expanses of grey, bare rock.

The Guardian - Travel

In reality, it set the mould for the dreary expanses of carpet tiles and suspended ceilings that have proliferated ever since; research has also suggested that open offices "make people less productive and more hostile and anxious".

The Guardian - Arts

4km from Carvalhal and Amália beaches A group of low-slung white buildings surrounded by the empty expanses of the Alentejo, Cerca do Sul has seven rooms, including one family room, all opening on to the terrace.

The Guardian - Travel

The carved stone windows now frame expanses of brick, while the students' bedroom windows look directly on to the blank back of the preserved wall less than a metre away.

The Guardian - Arts

If the travelling contingent was admirable, the vast expanses of empty seats elsewhere merely highlighted disillusion within the Hibs following.

The Guardian - Sport

The bits of the web everyone knows about and uses are the land masses, but surrounding them are the vast expanses of ocean that represent the much publicised "deep web" – the uncharted depths that are the areas not indexed by standard commercial search engines, because they're meaningless to the average internet user.

The Guardian - Music

Brands that seem snooty downtown present themselves more invitingly in terminals, with open doors and expanses of glass.

The Economist

(Johnson) New Museum: 'Ellen Gallagher: Don't Axe Me' (through Sept. 15) Ellen Gallagher emerged in the early 1990s with memorable paintings that yoked Minimalism to minstrelsy by scattering tiny caricatures of eyes and mouths across creamy expanses of paper and canvas.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing geographical features, use "expanses" to convey the idea of vast, open areas, such as "vast expanses of desert" or "endless expanses of ocean".

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "expanse" when referring to multiple distinct areas. "Expanses" correctly denotes several large, open areas.

Linguistic Context

The word "expanses" functions primarily as a noun, typically referring to large, open areas or spaces. It is the plural form of "expanse". Ludwig indicates its proper use in describing geographical features or abstract concepts involving scale or extent. As a noun, it often serves as the subject or object of a sentence, modifying other nouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "expanses" is a plural noun denoting large, open areas, commonly used to describe geographical features or abstract concepts involving scale. Its grammatical status is correct, and it appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. Ludwig AI confirms the word's correct usage in written English. To convey the idea of vast, open areas, using alternatives such as "vast stretches" and "wide areas" can add variety to your writing. Remember to use the plural form correctly when referring to multiple areas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vast stretches

Replaces "expanses" with "stretches", emphasizing the continuous nature of the area.

wide areas

Substitutes "expanses" with "areas", focusing on the breadth of the space.

extensive regions

Uses "regions" instead of "expanses", highlighting the geographical aspect of the space.

broad sweeps

Replaces "expanses" with "sweeps", suggesting a continuous and unbroken area.

immense territories

Uses "territories" instead of "expanses", emphasizing ownership or control of the area.

large tracts

Substitutes "expanses" with "tracts", focusing on defined portions of land.

great swathes

Replaces "expanses" with "swathes", suggesting broad areas often with a specific characteristic.

unlimited scopes

Uses "scopes" instead of "expanses", emphasizing the range or extent of something abstract.

boundless domains

Replaces "expanses" with "domains", highlighting control and extent.

limitless amplitudes

Uses "amplitudes" instead of "expanses", emphasizing the range of some variable.

FAQs

How can I use "expanses" in a sentence?

You can use "expanses" to describe large areas, such as "The explorers crossed the vast "expanses of the Sahara"" or "The artist captured the beauty of the open "expanses of the prairie"".

What are some synonyms for "expanses"?

Alternatives to "expanses" include "stretches", "areas", "regions", "tracts", and "territories", each carrying slightly different nuances depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "expanse" instead of "expanses"?

While "expanse" refers to a single, large area, "expanses" denotes multiple such areas. Ensure you use the plural form when referring to more than one large area, for example, "the "vast expanses of land"".

What is the difference between "expanses" and "expansions"?

"Expanses" refers to large areas or spaces, while "expansions" refers to the act of becoming larger or more extensive. For example, "vast "expanses of desert"" versus "the city's "rapid expansions" into the surrounding countryside".