extent of things

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extent of things" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the scope, range, or degree of various subjects or matters. Example: "The extent of things we can achieve together is limited only by our imagination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I think the moment I realised the extent of things was at a party that his dealer attended.

The Guardian

That might have been the extent of things, but for his Curt Flood-like determination to test senior softball's free-agent system.

The New York Times - Sports

This, however, is nothing we should be concerned about: "For, though the comprehension of our understandings comes exceeding short of the vast extent of things; yet we shall have cause enough to magnify the bountiful author of our being, for that proportion and degree of knowledge he has bestowed on us, so far above all the rest of the inhabitants of this our mansion" (I, I, 5).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Well, he has pretty much dedicated his whole life so far to getting where he is today, even to the extent of sacrificing things like fun, mates, or anything which might stop him "reaching his potential".

The Guardian - Sport

Obviously, I'm not going to subscribe to the lazy praise of this record to the extent of other things.

Huffington Post

@NateforDC we'll have to agree to disagree on the whole "extent of neighborhoods" thing.

Huffington Post

Strawberry growers, who turned on sprinklers to give their crops a protective glaze, said that they knew there would be some damage to their fruit, but that they would not know the extent of it until things thawed out early next week.

The New York Times

Ms. Lieberson, too, focused on her known strengths, to the extent of recapitulating some things from her 2001 recital at Tully Hall: the Rilke Songs written for her by her husband, Peter Lieberson.

The New York Times - Arts

That said, FSB, a sub component of social capital, characterised by the extent of families doing things together, did not appear in either multivariate analysis carried out for the Spanish sample.

BMC Public Health

"I think that as they grow up and as their income rises they'll probably start owning more things, but I think it's never going to be to the extent of the ownership of things of the previous generation".

The Guardian

The extent of the connectedness of things was an abiding interest to Peter, and his delight in discovery and in telling us about his discoveries showed an enthusiasm that was both persuasive and infectious.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "extent of things", ensure that the context clearly defines what "things" refers to, to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "the extent of the damage" or "the extent of the problem".

Common error

Avoid using "extent of things" when a more specific term would provide clarity. Saying "the extent of the damage" is better than just saying "the extent of things" if you're discussing damage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extent of things" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically indicating the scope, degree, or magnitude of a particular situation or set of circumstances. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig show it being used to describe the degree of a problem or the range of possibilities.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extent of things" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to denote the scope, range, or magnitude of various matters. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. While "extent of things" can be somewhat vague, it appears in diverse contexts, most commonly in news and media and scientific publications. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify what "things" refers to, as noted in writing guidance. Related phrases such as "magnitude of matters" or "scope of affairs" can offer more formal or nuanced alternatives. Overall, while not very frequent, the phrase is acceptable and useful when applied thoughtfully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

magnitude of matters

Replaces "extent" with "magnitude" and "things" with "matters", altering the tone to sound more formal and significant.

scope of affairs

Substitutes "extent" with "scope" and "things" with "affairs", suggesting a comprehensive overview of events or situations.

range of subjects

Replaces "extent" with "range" and "things" with "subjects", focusing on the diversity and variety of topics covered.

degree of issues

Uses "degree" instead of "extent" and "issues" instead of "things", highlighting the intensity or severity of problems.

scale of events

Replaces "extent" with "scale" and "things" with "events", emphasizing the size and impact of occurrences.

dimensions of circumstances

Substitutes "extent" with "dimensions" and "things" with "circumstances", providing a multi-faceted view of situations.

depth of subjects

Replaces "extent" with "depth" and "things" with "subjects", focusing on the complexity and profundity of topics.

measure of items

Uses "measure" instead of "extent" and "items" instead of "things", providing a quantified view of particular components.

size of objects

Substitutes "extent" with "size" and "things" with "objects", referring to the actual physical or conceptual dimensions of entities.

breadth of topics

Replaces "extent" with "breadth" and "things" with "topics", emphasizing the width and comprehensiveness of various areas of discussion.

FAQs

How can I use "extent of things" in a sentence?

You can use "extent of things" to refer to the scope, range, or degree of various matters. For example: "I think the moment I realised the "extent of things" was at a party that his dealer attended."

What's a more formal alternative to "extent of things"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "magnitude of matters" or "scope of affairs", depending on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "extent of things"?

While grammatically correct, "extent of things" can sometimes be vague. It's often better to specify what "things" refers to for clarity. For instance, use "extent of the damage" or "extent of the problem".

What are some common synonyms for "extent of things"?

Some common synonyms include "range of subjects", "degree of issues", or "scale of events", each offering a slightly different emphasis on the scope, intensity, or size of the matters being discussed.