on a broad scale

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a broad scale" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe an event, action, or process that is affecting a large number of people or covering a wide area. For example, "The new law has had an impact on a broad scale, affecting people across the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This proves its value on a broad scale," he said.

The Guardian

Of course it is — on a broad scale.

The New York Times

F.D. Roosevelt directed the Bureau to conduct investigations of political matters on a broad scale.

The New Yorker

"It'll take some time for consumers to adopt it on a broad scale," Mr. Navar said.

The New York Times

Often, the result has been evolutionary change at a fast pace and on a broad scale.

The New York Times - Science

Nor are they sure the One Medical model can be replicated on a broad scale.

The New York Times - Health

Whether Mudd's success can be replicated on a broad scale is unclear.

The New York Times - Science

The plan is to introduce this on a broad scale in the next few years.

The New York Times

In the surge, Petraeus finally got a chance to put his ideas into practice on a broad scale.

The New York Times - Books

On a broad scale in the UK it would require the drilling of thousands of holes, scattered across the countryside.

The Guardian

Facebook allows us to meet this very basic social need, and to do that on a broad scale".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on a broad scale" to emphasize the extensive reach or impact of a phenomenon, initiative, or change. This phrasing is particularly effective when contrasting a localized effect with a more widespread one.

Common error

While versatile, avoid using "on a broad scale" in overly casual settings where simpler alternatives like "generally" or "widely" would suffice. Preserving it for more formal or analytical writing will maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a broad scale" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the extent or scope of an action, event, or condition. It specifies that something is happening widely or affecting many things, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on a broad scale" is a versatile and frequently used prepositional phrase that indicates the extensive reach or impact of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and primarily functions as an adverbial modifier. It's commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, signaling its use in describing widespread phenomena. When writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "widely" or "extensively" in informal contexts to maintain clarity and appropriateness. The provided examples from Ludwig highlight the phrase's effectiveness in emphasizing the scale and scope of an action or event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on a large scale

Replaces "broad" with "large", emphasizing size rather than breadth.

on a wide scale

Substitutes "broad" with "wide", focusing on the extent of impact.

across the board

Emphasizes uniformity of application or effect.

in a widespread manner

Highlights the extensive distribution of the action or effect.

extensively

A single-word adverb that captures the idea of wide-ranging impact.

on a global level

Specifies that the scale is worldwide.

comprehensively

Indicates a thorough and complete approach across a large area.

across many sectors

Highlights impact on different sections and domains.

in general

Indicates that something is true or applicable to most cases.

universally

Suggests that something applies to everyone or everything.

FAQs

How can I use "on a broad scale" in a sentence?

You can use "on a broad scale" to describe the extent of an action, impact, or phenomenon. For example: "The vaccine proved effective "on a broad scale", reducing the spread of the disease significantly."

What are some alternatives to "on a broad scale"?

Alternatives include "on a large scale", "widely", "extensively", or "comprehensively", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in a broad scale" instead of "on a broad scale"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "on". Saying "in a broad scale" is grammatically incorrect. Always use ""on a broad scale"".

What's the difference between ""on a large scale"" and ""on a broad scale""?

While similar, "on a large scale" emphasizes the magnitude or size of something, whereas ""on a broad scale"" emphasizes the scope, range, or extent of something. They are often interchangeable, but the subtle difference in emphasis can be important depending on the context.