narrow the scope

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrow the scope" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to reduce the range or amount of something. For example, "We need to narrow the scope of our budget to ensure that we can cover our expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Needed was another adjective to narrow the scope.

The New York Times - Magazine

That will further narrow the scope for ugly abuses.

The Economist

Ms. Luque sought in her remarks to narrow the scope of the case for the jury.

The New York Times

The government has already promised to narrow the scope of the schedule 7 powers.

The Guardian

Now those provisions are being tested, with attempts underway to narrow the scope of the act.

The New York Times

When they persisted, we pushed them to narrow the scope of their cooperation.

The New York Times

Next, the JCHR persuaded the government to narrow the scope of its proposals.

The Guardian

Russia is likely to side with China in attempting to narrow the scope of the resolution.

The Guardian

She said there could be a legal challenge to narrow the scope of the immunity.

The Guardian

There is a proposal on his desk to narrow the scope of the Clean Water Act.

The New York Times

With few exceptions, executives immediately narrow the scope of discussion to their own employees.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "narrow the scope", ensure that the reduced scope still adequately addresses the core issue. Avoid over-simplification that omits crucial details.

Common error

Be cautious not to "narrow the scope" so much that the analysis becomes irrelevant or fails to address the core problem adequately. Always consider the potential implications of excluding certain elements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrow the scope" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action to reduce the extent or range of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and usable. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts to refine and focus a subject or investigation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrow the scope" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate the act of reducing the extent or range of a topic, project, or analysis. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse applications, from News & Media to Science and Formal & Business settings. To ensure clarity and effectiveness, avoid over-restriction when narrowing the scope, and always consider the potential implications of excluding certain elements. The phrase is very common, as demonstrated by the numerous examples available in Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reduce the extent

Focuses on diminishing the size or range, emphasizing a quantitative decrease.

Limit the boundaries

Highlights setting defined limits, suggesting a more restrictive approach.

Restrict the area

Emphasizes confining something to a smaller or more specific zone.

Define the parameters

Focuses on establishing clear and specific limits, emphasizing precision.

Focus the subject

Highlights bringing the topic into sharper focus, reducing ambiguity.

Refine the topic

Stresses improving the subject by removing unwanted elements, making it purer.

Curtail the extent

Suggests reducing something abruptly or decisively.

Trim the range

Implies cutting away excess to make the range smaller or neater.

Constrain the limits

Stresses imposing strict boundaries, suggesting a forceful restriction.

Downsize the project

Emphasizes reducing the scale of an undertaking, often for efficiency.

FAQs

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

You can use "narrow the scope" to indicate a reduction in the breadth of a topic, project, or investigation. For example, "To make the research manageable, we decided to narrow the scope of the study."

What can I say instead of "narrow the scope"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce the extent", "limit the boundaries", or "focus the subject" depending on the context.

Is it better to "narrow the scope" or "broaden the scope"?

Whether to "narrow the scope" or broaden it depends on the specific situation. "Narrow the scope" is suitable when focusing on specific details, while broadening is appropriate for a more comprehensive view.

When is it necessary to "narrow the scope" of a project?

It's necessary to "narrow the scope" when a project is too broad, lacks focus, or is unmanageable within the available resources or timeline.