reasonably narrow

USAGE SUMMARY

"reasonably narrow" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is limited in scope or extent but still within acceptable bounds. For example: "The study focused on a reasonably narrow range of topics." Alternative expressions include "fairly limited" and "somewhat restricted."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

We can summarise her arguments thus: the only way the chaplains program can continue on now is via the states; and the implications of the judgment are reasonably narrow.

The Guardian

That in turn allows the midfield three to play reasonably narrow, so in the game against Romania in Zenica back in March, Susic was able to include Miralem Pjanic, Zvjezdan Misimovic and Haris Medunjanin.

The Guardian - Sport

The resulting block copolymers are versatile and the molecular weight distribution is reasonably narrow.

Polymer

For the homopolymerization of DMA, molecular weights increased linearly with conversion and polydispersities were reasonably narrow.

Polymer

The nanocomposite particles were stable colloids with a reasonably narrow size distribution and a SiO2 content of 40%.

Polymer

Moreover, the 95% CI of the upper and lower limits should be reasonably narrow, which is very likely for a large sample size.

Chemistry Central Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Even a much larger study of similar patients could only be reasonably anticipated to narrow the confidence bands for significant adverse effects from RCM, but still within the upper or lower bounds of the confidence intervals we found.

Critical Care

Regardless of the fact that the predicted probability calibration based on the error bars looks reasonably good, the narrow range of the predicted probabilities indicates the weakness of the clinical stage model and this has also been shown in previous results (Table  3).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The independence struggle in Spanish America (though not Brazil) was far longer and bloodier than in the United States, and the new states took much longer to achieve political stability.Between 1870 and 1930 the first great period of globalisation Latin America did reasonably well, slightly narrowing the income gap with its northern neighbour.

The Economist

Strachan survived his initiation with a narrow but reasonably convincing friendly win over Estonia in February.

BBC

Both the medium- and high-variance cases estimate this proportion reasonably well, with relatively narrow 95% credibility intervals, the only exception being the medium case in the M20 scenario.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, this phrase is particularly effective for describing confidence intervals or molecular weight distributions that show good control.

Common error

While "reasonably narrow" is excellent for qualitative descriptions, avoid using it in engineering or safety specifications where precise numerical tolerances are required. In such cases, replace the subjective adverb 'reasonably' with exact measurements to prevent dangerous misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably narrow" acts as an adjective phrase where the adverb 'reasonably' modifies the adjective 'narrow'. It functions to qualify the degree of narrowness, suggesting that while the subject is limited, it remains within a logical or acceptable boundary. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently modifies nouns like 'distribution', 'focus' and 'intervals'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Reference

2%

Informal

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "reasonably narrow" is a highly effective phrase for writers seeking to describe a specific scope with professional nuance. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most prevalent in scientific and academic contexts, often used to validate the accuracy of data or the focus of a study. It strikes a perfect balance between being descriptive and being cautious, making it a staple in the lexicon of journalists and researchers alike. Whether describing a "reasonably narrow" confidence interval or a physical path, it signals to the reader that the parameters are well-defined and appropriate for the subject at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly limited

Suggests a slightly more restrictive scope than the original.

somewhat restricted

Implies the existence of external constraints rather than just intrinsic width.

moderately specific

Focuses on the precision of the focus rather than the physical or metaphorical width.

relatively focused

Emphasizes the concentration of effort or data within a specific area.

sufficiently specialized

Indicates that the narrowness is appropriate for a particular purpose.

quite constrained

Carries a slightly more negative or intense connotation of limitation.

reasonably tight

Often used in technical contexts to describe ranges or physical fits.

adequately circumscribed

A highly formal alternative suggesting well-defined boundaries.

fairly precise

Shifts the focus from the 'narrowness' to the 'accuracy' of the range.

somewhat slim

More informal and typically describes physical width or chances.

FAQs

How to use "reasonably narrow" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a specific scope, such as: "The study was conducted on a "reasonably narrow population" group to ensure data consistency."

What can I say instead of "reasonably narrow"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "fairly limited", "relatively focused", or "somewhat restricted".

Is "reasonably narrow" formal or informal?

It is considered neutral to formal. It is frequently used in scientific research papers and high-level journalism, making it appropriate for professional settings.

What is the difference between "reasonably narrow" and "fairly limited"?

While similar, "reasonably narrow" often carries a more positive connotation of precision, whereas "fairly limited" might suggest a lack of resources or options.