narrowing the boundaries

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrowing the boundaries" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of defining limits or constraints in a particular context, such as a project, research, or policy. Example: "The team is focused on narrowing the boundaries of the study to ensure more accurate results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or, if no young eruptions have been identified in a region of the volcanic field, this area could be removed from the current or future boundary region by shortening, or narrowing, the boundary in these regions.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

While SAP has not taken a position on Oracle's $7.7 billion hostile bid for PeopleSoft, people at the company said Mr. Kagermann would prefer not to have regulators narrow the boundaries of the market.

The New York Times

When the Democratic presidential contenders meet in Albuquerque tonight for the first of their official fall debates, they'll be hamstrung not only by their "nine dwarfs" tableau and by President Bush's popularity, but also by a loss of ambition that has perversely narrowed the boundaries of domestic debate.

The New York Times

But some property owners complained that they do not have a parking shortage, and the council instructed the staff to narrow the boundaries to those properties that would benefit from the plan.

Los Angeles Times

The five InDels found by Sanger sequencing that narrowed the boundary for a CO event were added to the total number of InDels found by whole genome sequencing and were included in the statistical analysis.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Assuming that the disease in this family is due to the same genetic cause, the recombination breakpoint observed in this study at D16S489 slightly narrows the telomeric boundary of the combined published minimal disease region by 26 kb.

Acta Neuropathologica

The results for eve 2 show a wider stripe forming before it narrows to the boundaries of stripe 2. This mirrors published results for an eve 2 reporter as well as the endogenous expression of eve (Small et al., 1992; Andrioli et al., 2002).

eLife

In the present study, in which the specific goal was to redefine (and narrow) the boundaries of the Aec2 genetic region on chromosome 1 known to predispose NOD and NOD-derived lines of mice to SjS, we generated a large set of new RI lines (n = 39) and examined each line for its SjS-like disease profile.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

In the first generation Puddu plate the stress concentration zones were less precisely defined, and in the Puddu plate with LHS, those zones were narrowed to the boundary between the cylindrical insert and the surface of the plate.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

If it fires Hawkins, it will upset many who feel the college is unnecessarily narrowing its boundaries.

The Washington Post

The present analysis allowed narrowing down and delineating the boundaries of high-level amplification events.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "narrowing the boundaries", ensure the context clearly defines what is being limited or constrained to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "narrowing the boundaries" when the context requires a more nuanced approach or when the focus is on expansion rather than restriction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrowing the boundaries" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun within a sentence. It describes the process of restricting or limiting something, as Ludwig AI confirms. For example, one might speak of "narrowing the boundaries" of a research project or a debate.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "narrowing the boundaries" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase used to describe the act of restricting or defining limits. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, though the absence of real-world examples suggests it may not be a highly frequent expression. It typically carries a neutral to formal tone and is applicable in contexts where defining scope is essential, such as research, policy-making, or project management. Alternatives like "defining the limits" or "restricting the scope" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defining the limits

Focuses on the act of setting clear limits or endpoints.

restricting the scope

Highlights the reduction of the area or extent covered.

limiting the extent

Emphasizes the action of reducing the degree or amount.

constraining the parameters

Implies setting specific constraints or conditions.

reducing the area

Directly refers to making an area smaller.

shortening the range

Focuses on decreasing the distance or scope.

tightening the constraints

Highlights making existing restrictions more strict.

delimiting the sphere

Emphasizes setting boundaries for a specific domain or area of influence.

specifying the confines

Focuses on clearly defining the limits or edges.

concentrating the focus

Shifts from boundaries to directing attention towards a narrower area.

FAQs

How can I use "narrowing the boundaries" in a sentence?

You can use "narrowing the boundaries" to describe the act of defining or restricting the scope of something. For instance, "The research team is "narrowing the boundaries" of the study to focus on specific variables."

What are some alternatives to "narrowing the boundaries"?

Alternatives include "defining the limits", "restricting the scope", or "limiting the extent" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "narrowing the boundaries"?

It's appropriate when discussing the process of making something more specific, focused, or limited in scope. This is often relevant in project management, research, or policy-making.

What's the difference between "narrowing the boundaries" and "expanding the boundaries"?

"Narrowing the boundaries" implies a reduction in scope or area, while "expanding the boundaries" suggests an increase or broadening of the same. They represent opposite actions.