narrowed the divide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrowed the divide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to reduce differences or gaps between groups, ideas, or situations. Example: "The new policy has significantly narrowed the divide between the rich and the poor in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

After hip-hop impresarios narrowed the divide between popular music and blatant hucksterism, other popular musicians followed suit.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many Democrats now concede that their immediate goal is far less ambitious: to narrow the divide so they have a better chance of recapturing the House in 2006.

The New York Times

Many Democrats now concede that their immediate goal is to narrow the divide so they have a better chance of recapturing the House in 2006.

The New York Times

In the past, religion and biology have usually been in sharp conflict, but in recent years scientists of faith have sought to narrow the divide.

The New Yorker

More important, when it comes to determining the best use of international aid, money given to narrowing the divide might be better spent elsewhere.

The Economist

Or it can involve making labour markets more flexible (Spain is trying to narrow the divide between well-protected permanent staff and lightly protected temporary ones).

The Economist

Britain now has the most extreme inter-regional inequalities of any country in western Europe, yet the biggest concentration of political power in a centre that is singularly ill equipped to narrow the divide.

The Guardian - Opinion

While such rhetoric is hardly out of character, it showed how the talks had failed to narrow the divide between Iran and the six world powers that are demanding curbs in its nuclear program.

The New York Times

Whatever one thinks of recent attempts to narrow the divide between academic and vocational qualifications, this document at least openly states the widespread preference for the former in "top" universities: "It is extremely important that you are aware that for several university courses … vocational qualifications are not considered to be suitable".

The Guardian - Opinion

While the federal Affordable Care Act is intended to narrow the divide between those with health care and those without, in its first day of operation the Web site aimed at helping consumers sign up for health insurance – Healthcare.gov – might have driven a larger wedge between technologically adept Americans and those who have yet to fully embrace the social Web and mobile technology.

The New York Times

Facebook and Apple have not come out and said this was an attempt to narrow the divide between opportunities for male and female employees.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "narrowed the divide" when you want to emphasize a reduction in differences between two or more distinct entities, whether those differences are ideological, economic, or social. For example, 'The new policy has "narrowed the divide" between urban and rural communities.'

Common error

Avoid using "narrowed the divide" when referring to minor disagreements or personal preferences. This phrase implies a significant separation or disparity, not just a slight difference of opinion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrowed the divide" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of reducing a separation or difference. It highlights a process of convergence or reconciliation, as seen in examples from Ludwig, where it's used to describe efforts to lessen disparities in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academic

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrowed the divide" is a versatile phrase used to describe the reduction of differences or separation, whether in social, economic, or ideological contexts. Ludwig highlights that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media and scientific writing. While it is crucial to use the phrase when referring to substantial disparities rather than minor differences, alternatives such as "bridged the gap" or "reduced the disparity" can offer nuanced meanings depending on the specific situation. Therefore, understanding its appropriate use and context is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bridged the gap

Emphasizes connection where there was separation; more figurative.

closed the gap

Implies complete elimination of the difference.

reduced the disparity

Focuses on lessening inequality or imbalance.

lessened the divide

A more direct synonym, simply reducing the extent of the separation.

minimized the gap

Suggests an effort to make the difference as small as possible.

eased the tension

Addresses the reduction of strain or conflict caused by a divide.

mitigated the differences

Highlights the act of alleviating or softening the impact of variances.

reconciled the differences

Suggests bringing opposing sides into agreement or harmony.

blurred the lines

Implies that distinctions have become less clear or defined.

leveled the playing field

Focuses on creating equal opportunities where inequality existed.

FAQs

What does it mean to say something has "narrowed the divide"?

Saying something has "narrowed the divide" means it has reduced the differences or separation between two or more groups, ideas, or situations.

How can I use "narrowed the divide" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe actions or policies that have lessened disparities. For example, "The new educational program /s/bridged+the+gap"bridged the gap" between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds".

Which is more appropriate, "narrowed the divide" or /s/closed+the+gap"closed the gap"?

"Narrowed the divide" suggests a reduction in differences, while /s/closed+the+gap"closed the gap" implies a complete elimination of differences. Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual outcome.

What are some alternatives to "narrowed the divide"?

Alternatives include /s/reduced+the+disparity"reduced the disparity", /s/minimized+the+gap"minimized the gap", or /s/eased+the+tension"eased the tension", depending on the context.