prevalence of

USAGE SUMMARY

"prevalence of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate the widespread occurrence of a particular thing. For example, "Due to climate change, there has been a drastic increase in the prevalence of natural disasters in recent years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The prevalence of B.Y.O.

The New York Times

The prevalence of disorders varies by sex.

The Economist

I blame the prevalence of electronic communications.

The New York Times

Another problem is the prevalence of counterfeits.

The Economist

Hence the prevalence of dashboard cameras.

The New York Times

Hence the historic prevalence of polygamy.

The New York Times

You lament the prevalence of extreme gerrymandering.

The New York Times

(That explains the prevalence of spirits).

The New York Times - Travel

There are many reasons for the prevalence of abortion here.

The New York Times

This accounts for the prevalence of lone wolves.

The Guardian

The prevalence of makeover shows is testament to this.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevalence of", ensure you clearly define what you are measuring and the population or context to which it applies. For example, specify "the prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 30-40".

Common error

Avoid assuming that a high "prevalence of" something directly causes another phenomenon. High prevalence indicates a common occurrence, but further research is needed to establish a causal relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevalence of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the extent to which something is common or widespread. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is indeed correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prevalence of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase used to describe how widespread something is. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Primarily found in scientific and news contexts, it maintains a formal tone suitable for objective discussions. When using this phrase, be specific about what you're measuring, and remember that high "prevalence of" something doesn't automatically mean it causes something else.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commonness of

This directly refers to how frequently something is found or observed.

frequency of

This alternative focuses more on how often something occurs, rather than its overall extent.

occurrence of

This term emphasizes the act or instance of something happening, rather than its widespread nature.

rate of

This suggests a measurement of how often something happens within a specific time period or population.

extent of

This highlights the range or scope to which something reaches or exists.

pervasiveness of

This emphasizes how something spreads throughout or affects everything.

widespread presence of

This emphasizes that something is broadly found or distributed.

degree of

This indicates how intense or significant something is.

dominance of

This suggests that something has a controlling or prevailing influence.

magnitude of

This alternative suggests the scale or importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "prevalence of" in a sentence?

You can use "prevalence of" to describe how common something is within a specific group or area. For example, "The "prevalence of" obesity is increasing in urban areas".

What are some alternatives to using "prevalence of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "frequency of", "rate of", or "commonness of". Choose the alternative that best fits the meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the prevalence of occurrence"?

While grammatically correct, "the prevalence of occurrence" can be redundant. It's often better to simply use "the prevalence of" followed by the thing that is occurring.

What's the difference between "incidence of" and "prevalence of"?

"Incidence of" refers to the number of new cases of something in a specific period, while ""prevalence of"" refers to the total number of cases (new and existing) at a specific point in time.