have a narrow scope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have a narrow scope" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is limited in range or focus, often in academic, professional, or analytical contexts. Example: "The study's findings have a narrow scope, focusing only on a specific demographic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The research studies considered, as reported in published articles mainly under the aegis of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), have a narrow scope in that they test only 3 or 4 rice varieties under different soil moisture treatments obtained with controlled irrigation, but with other agronomic factors of production held as constant.

Agricultural Water Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

While they are more precise, and thus may be more valid than much of psychoanalytic theory, experiments perforce have a narrower scope than the grand sweep of psychoanalysis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Limited Plans have a narrower scope than that of "tailored plans" ("Tailored Plans"), which limit many of the rule's requirements to a filer's parent and its non‑banking material entities and operations.

Columbia University

Traditionally they had had a narrow scope of responsibilities, often limited to managing the relationship with the unionized workforce, ensuring compliance with national/provincial policies on recruitment and deployment of personnel, and organizing continuing education activities [ 56].

Human Resources for Health

So Mr. Obama's "pause" had a narrower scope, was in response to a specific episode and does not appear to have been fully implemented.

The New York Times

"You're saying, 'In every possible world, everything is physical.' " In Sentence 2, "Everything is necessarily physical," "necessarily" has a narrower scope: it ignores the merely possible and attends only to what actually exists.

The New York Times

Another straight-from-China show this season, "The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures From the Forbidden City," which has its debut at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., on Sept. 14, has a narrower scope: the reign of a single 18th-century Qing dynasty ruler.

The New York Times - Arts

Hutchinson said Wednesday he wants state lawmakers to rewrite Arkansas' bill to make it more consistent with the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which has a narrower scope.

Huffington Post

However, this is somewhat of a paradox, because if you want to be a true thought leader, you have to have a narrow enough scope to condense your content into the topics you want to be known for, but you can't say the same thing over and over again and expect people to still engage.

Huffington Post

Any public plan is likely to have a relatively narrow scope, as it would be offered only to people who don't have access to coverage through an employer.

The Washington Post

Following the demise of the so-called grand theories offered by luminaries like Sigmund Freud, B. F. Skinner, and Carl Rogers, the field of psychology largely gave up its early aspirations to paint a broad picture of the human condition, and now the discipline focuses primarily on empirical problems that have a relatively narrow scope.

Springer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have a narrow scope", clearly define what the limitations are to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "the project has a narrow scope", specify "the project has a narrow scope, focusing only on the initial phase of development".

Common error

Avoid using "have a narrow scope" when the subject actually has broad applications or implications. Ensure the limitations are genuine and justifiable, otherwise, it may undermine the subject's significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have a narrow scope" functions as a descriptor, indicating that something is limited in its range, extent, or applicability. Ludwig shows this usage across various fields.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have a narrow scope" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something limited in range, extent, or applicability. Ludwig confirms its prevalence across various contexts, including science, news and media, and academia. While the phrase is typically neutral to formal, careful definition of the limitations is crucial to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "be limited in extent" or "possess a specific focus" can be used depending on the context. It's important to avoid overstating limitations to maintain credibility. The phrase serves to specify boundaries and clarify the focus of a topic, study, or project, as highlighted by examples in Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be limited in extent

Focuses on the restricted range or magnitude.

be restricted in application

Emphasizes limitations in how something can be used.

be confined in coverage

Highlights limitations in the breadth of topics included.

possess a specific focus

Emphasizes a particular area of concentration.

cover a limited area

Stresses spatial or topical constraints.

address a particular subject

Highlights the focus on a clearly defined theme or area.

concentrate on a singular aspect

Emphasizes the focus on one specific facet.

be limited to certain parameters

Focuses on restriction within specified limits.

have a finite range

Stresses the limited boundaries or scope.

deal with a select few elements

Highlights focus on a small number of components.

FAQs

How can I use "have a narrow scope" in a sentence?

You can use "have a narrow scope" to describe something with limited range or focus. For example, "The study's findings "have a narrow scope", focusing only on a specific demographic."

What are some alternatives to "have a narrow scope"?

Alternatives include phrases like "be limited in extent", "be restricted in application", or "possess a specific focus", depending on the context.

Is it better to "have a narrow scope" or a broad one?

Neither is inherently better; it depends on the purpose. A narrow scope allows for deep investigation, while a broad scope provides a general overview. The choice depends on the goals of the research, project, or discussion.

What does it mean when research is said to "have a narrow scope"?

When research is said to ""have a narrow scope"", it means it's focused on a specific aspect or area, possibly excluding other relevant factors or broader implications. This doesn't necessarily indicate a weakness, but rather a defined area of focus.