far and wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far and wide" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a search or a reach that goes a long way, for example: "The King's men searched far and wide for the lost princess."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's scattered far and wide.

The New York Times

That has raised hackles far and wide.

The Economist

The Mittelstand wins plaudits far and wide.

The Economist

The scorn echoed far and wide.

The New York Times

Ball caps travel far and wide.

The New York Times

Body parts were strewn far and wide.

Independent

Far and wide, everyone dug the garden.

The New York Times

Barbecue styles hail from far and wide.

The New York Times - Food

Stage one: E-mail far and wide.

The New Yorker

"They're far and wide," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

Use far and wide.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far and wide" to emphasize the extensive scope or reach of something, whether it's a search, an influence, or a distribution. For example, "The news spread far and wide after the announcement."

Common error

Avoid using "far and wide" when a more specific description of location or scope is needed. "Far and wide" implies a very broad area, so it's inappropriate if you're referring to a limited or well-defined space.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far and wide" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate the extent or scope of an action or state. As Ludwig AI illustrates, it describes how something is dispersed, searched for, or known.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

23%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverbial phrase "far and wide" is a common and versatile expression used to emphasize the extensive scope or reach of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic contexts, "far and wide" serves to communicate a sense of thoroughness and completeness, indicating that something is not limited to a small area but covers a significant distance or range. While alternatives like "extensively" or "over a wide area" exist, "far and wide" offers a unique emphasis on the breadth and vastness of the subject it modifies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far and near

This expression means essentially the same thing as "far and wide" but it is slightly less common and emphasizes proximity as well as distance.

over a wide area

Focuses on the geographical aspect of the reach, omitting the 'distance' aspect.

across a broad spectrum

Emphasizes the variety or range covered, rather than the physical distance.

to the four corners of the earth

A more dramatic and literary way to express reaching a very large area.

extensively

A single-word adverb that conveys the idea of thoroughness or comprehensiveness.

widely

Similar to extensively, but focuses more on the breadth of impact or awareness.

in every corner

Suggests a thoroughness of reach, but less emphasis on distance.

throughout the region

More specific to a geographical area, lacking the sense of great distance.

all over the place

More informal, suggesting a scattered or disorganized distribution.

across the board

This conveys that something affects everything or everyone, not physical distance, so it is less similar.

FAQs

How can I use "far and wide" in a sentence?

You can use "far and wide" to describe something that extends over a large area or is widespread. For example, "The search for the missing hiker extended "far and wide"."

What's a good alternative to "far and wide"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "over a wide area", "extensively", or "widely".

Is "far and wide" formal or informal?

"Far and wide" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal writing might prefer a single-word adverb like "extensively".

What does "far and wide" emphasize in a sentence?

"Far and wide" emphasizes the vastness and breadth of something. It highlights that something is not limited to a small area but covers a significant distance or range.