incredibly narrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incredibly narrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a very small width or limited scope, whether literally or metaphorically. Example: "The path through the forest was incredibly narrow, making it difficult for two people to walk side by side."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

It's an incredibly narrow corridor of the world, very claustrophobic".

The Guardian - Tech

"These remarks reflect an incredibly narrow view of worth.

The Guardian

He said the 166,000 rise in payrolls "is incredibly narrow and sort of implausible".

The New York Times

The list of opportunities for successful publishing using this outsourcing approach is incredibly narrow.

The Guardian

STR analysis, which looks at specific repeating patterns in DNA, can help identify profiles to an incredibly narrow degree.

The Guardian

The roads are also incredibly narrow, allowing little margin for error when bombing from one mission to the next.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

His comments follow others made by Abrams, who suggested that it would be "incredibly narrow-minded" to assume that homosexuality would not be part of the Star Wars franchise in the future.

The Guardian - Film

But at the age of 21, just four months after graduating, I already feel like my choices are incredibly narrowed.

The Guardian

Swayback horses have incredibly prominent, narrow withers and a prominent croup.

WikiHow

"It took me the best part of five years, and I found it incredibly difficult to narrow down what argument I wanted to make.

The Guardian

But Cameron has done so fast: "His shelf life has narrowed incredibly," says Tim Bale of the University of London, a historian of the modern Conservative party and its troubled post-Thatcher leaders.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incredibly narrow" to emphasize a small physical dimension or a limited scope of something. Ensure the context makes the intended meaning clear.

Common error

Avoid using "incredibly narrow" in overly casual conversation where simpler adjectives like "very small" or "limited" might suffice. This will maintain a consistent tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incredibly narrow" functions as an intensifier plus adjective, modifying a noun to emphasize its limited width or scope. It is commonly used to describe both physical spaces and abstract concepts, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples regarding paths and definitions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incredibly narrow" functions as an adverb-adjective combination used to emphasize the limited nature of something, be it physical space or abstract concepts. Ludwig highlights that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While alternatives like "extremely limited" or "remarkably confined" exist, "incredibly narrow" provides a distinct emphasis. It's important to use the phrase judiciously, avoiding overuse in overly informal settings to maintain an appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely limited

Replaces "narrow" with "limited" and "incredibly" with "extremely", emphasizing the restriction.

extraordinarily limited

Similar to "extremely limited" but uses "extraordinarily" for increased emphasis.

remarkably confined

Substitutes "narrow" with "confined" and "incredibly" with "remarkably", highlighting the restriction within boundaries.

exceptionally restricted

Replaces "narrow" with "restricted" and "incredibly" with "exceptionally", stressing the imposed limits.

unusually tight

Uses "tight" instead of "narrow" and "unusually" for "incredibly", suggesting a lack of space or flexibility.

highly circumscribed

Replaces "narrow" with "circumscribed", indicating a defined and restricted area.

intensely focused

Shifts the meaning slightly towards concentration on a small area, rather than physical narrowness.

decidedly constricted

Uses "constricted" to indicate a squeezing or narrowing, with "decidedly" adding emphasis.

severely curtailed

Implies a reduction or limiting of something, rather than inherent narrowness.

distinctly tapered

Focuses on the shape becoming gradually narrower, with "distinctly" emphasizing this change.

FAQs

What does "incredibly narrow" mean?

The phrase "incredibly narrow" describes something with an extremely small width or a very limited scope. It's used to emphasize the degree of narrowness.

How can I use "incredibly narrow" in a sentence?

You might say, "The path was "incredibly narrow", barely wide enough for one person" or "The company has an "incredibly narrow" focus on a single product line".

What are some alternatives to "incredibly narrow"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely limited", "remarkably confined", or "exceptionally restricted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "very narrow" or "incredibly narrow"?

"Incredibly narrow" adds more emphasis than "very narrow". Use "incredibly narrow" when you want to strongly highlight the limited width or scope. You can also explore options such as "unusually tight".