it has already spread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has already spread" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has disseminated or become widespread prior to the current moment. Example: "The news of the event has been so significant that it has already spread across social media platforms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Four out of five people with the disease are diagnosed when it has already spread, meaning they cannot have surgery – the only potential cure.

Independent

Once melanoma is the size of a dime, there is a good chance that it has already spread and treatment may not work, Dr. Rigel said.

The New York Times

Barely seven years after setting it up, it has already spread into the main body of the house, which I had hoped to keep free of bookshelves.

The New York Times

Clearly, the main focus should be on efforts to contain the disease where it has already spread, particularly in the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, where there have been about seventy-five hundred cases.

The New Yorker

Although the two reported cases are believed to have been related, there are fears that the fact it has already spread as far as Arizona may suggest the US is likely see a large number of addicts over the coming years.

Independent

(By Tuesday noon, the image was apparently being censored so it's unclear how long the joke will survive on the blogosphere, but it has already spread widely. Here are some examples from Sina Weibo, a microblogging platform, if the link still works).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The facts behind the threat — the cause, how far it had already spread, and its final ramifications — remained uncertain.

The New York Times

Either the plague would be gone or it had already spread through him.

The New Yorker

By the following Monday it had already spread to 100,000 computers.

The Guardian - Tech

Instead of an infection, as everyone had expected, it was lung cancer, and it had already spread to the lining of her chest.

The New Yorker

After visiting iTunes I went to share on Twitter and of course found it had already spread, there, on Facebook and had even made the news – the news!

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has already spread" to emphasize that the spreading action is complete and has happened before the current moment. This can be useful when discussing consequences or next steps.

Common error

Avoid using "it has already spread" when you want to express that something is currently spreading. Use a continuous tense like "it is currently spreading" or "it is still spreading" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has already spread" functions as a statement indicating that something has disseminated or become widespread before the present moment. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has already spread" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something has disseminated before the current time. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to inform, and it commonly appears in news, science, and wiki contexts. While versatile, it is crucial to use it when the spreading action is indeed complete. Synonyms like "disseminated" or "circulated" can offer a more formal tone if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's already disseminated

Replaces "spread" with a more formal synonym, changing the tone slightly.

it's already circulated

Uses "circulated" to imply a wider distribution among a group.

it's now widespread

Shifts the focus to the current state of being widespread rather than the action of spreading.

it has proliferated

Emphasizes rapid and abundant increase.

it's become prevalent

Highlights the commonness of something, a result of spreading.

it has propagated

Similar to proliferated but may imply a more deliberate or controlled spreading.

it has diffused

Suggests a gradual spreading, like a gas.

it has gained traction

Implies increasing popularity or acceptance, not just physical spread.

it has permeated

Indicates that something has spread throughout every part of something.

it's taken hold

Suggests something has established itself firmly.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it has already spread" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it has already disseminated" or "it has already circulated". These options use more sophisticated vocabulary.

When is it appropriate to use "it has already spread"?

Use "it has already spread" when you want to emphasize that the action of spreading is complete and occurred before the current context. It's often used to describe the consequences or implications of something that is now widespread.

What's the difference between "it has already spread" and "it is still spreading"?

"It has already spread" indicates a completed action with present results, while "it is still spreading" suggests an ongoing process. The former implies the spread is finished, while the latter indicates it's still in progress.

What are some synonyms for "spread" in the phrase "it has already spread"?

Depending on the context, you could use "diffused", "propagated", or "permeated" as synonyms for "spread" in the phrase. Each synonym carries a slightly different nuance.