is pretty wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is pretty wide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a considerable width or extent, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "The river is pretty wide at this point, making it difficult to cross without a bridge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

They're fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, which is pretty wide open outside the Miami Heat.

The Guardian - Sport

"Our palate is pretty wide open," the Pops conductor, Keith Lockhart, said in an interview.

The New York Times

"My new coach, Kevin Craggs, thinks I'm playing really well this week and this tournament is pretty wide open".

Independent

And on his case, he says: The definition of what is market abuse is pretty wide...and that has big implications for everyone in the markets.

The Guardian - Business

That's surely enough to reassure us that speculation about McChrystal running for the White House is pretty wide of the mark.

The Guardian

In fairness, the standard line trotted out about Hallyday – that he's France's answer to Cliff Richard – is pretty wide of the mark.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Reba is pretty, wide-eyed, and blind; she has the most uncomplicated sexuality of any figure in the Lecter landscape, and when Graham flirts with her you feel a short gust of identifiable feeling, blowing in from a world beyond the weird.

The New Yorker

Your clothing choice is pretty wide-open, but unless you are showing off that you have just completed a 20-mile hike, it's unlikely that a dirty t-shirt is the best choice for a selfie.

WikiHow

They are pretty wide open, these places.

The New Yorker

"The capitalization gap that was pretty wide a couple of years ago has been significantly reduced".

The New York Times

The major highways are pretty wide, and there's room for boards".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts, ensure the context clearly indicates what aspect is "wide", such as "the range of options is pretty wide."

Common error

Avoid using "is pretty wide" in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "is considerably broad" or "is substantially large".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is pretty wide" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe the extent or breadth of something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and provides examples showing its usage in describing both physical and abstract entities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is pretty wide" is a common and grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something with considerable width or extent. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, though it tends to be informal. For formal writing, it's advisable to choose more precise and professional alternatives. Remember to clearly define what aspect is "wide" when using the phrase to describe abstract concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite broad

Uses "quite" instead of "pretty" and "broad" instead of "wide", slightly more formal.

is fairly wide

Substitutes "pretty" with "fairly", which is a more neutral alternative.

is reasonably wide

Replaces "pretty" with "reasonably", indicating a moderate degree of width.

is considerably wide

Uses "considerably" to emphasize the width more strongly than "pretty".

is impressively wide

Emphasizes the width as being noteworthy or remarkable.

has a considerable width

Changes the structure to focus on the width as a property.

extends quite far

Shifts the focus from width to the extent of something.

is extensive

Uses a single adjective to describe a broad scope or range.

covers a large area

Describes the width in terms of the area covered.

spans a great distance

Emphasizes the measurement of width across a distance.

FAQs

What does "is pretty wide" mean?

The phrase "is pretty wide" means that something has a considerable width or extent. The word "pretty" here acts as an informal intensifier.

How can I use "is pretty wide" in a sentence?

You can use "is pretty wide" to describe physical spaces (e.g., "The river is pretty wide") or abstract concepts (e.g., "The range of possibilities is pretty wide").

What can I say instead of "is pretty wide"?

You can use alternatives like "is quite broad", "is fairly wide", or "is reasonably wide" depending on the context.

Is "is pretty wide" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "is pretty wide" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider alternatives such as "is considerably wide" or "has a considerable width".