scattered out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scattered out" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It is often used informally to describe something that is spread out or dispersed, but "scattered" alone is typically sufficient. Example: "The leaves were scattered out across the yard after the storm."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Performances are scattered out over the terrain.

The New York Times

"Before, they were just scattered out in neighborhoods," Dr. Longino said.

The New York Times

Such armoured cavalrymen, scattered out across the agricultural landscape as lords and local protectors of village communities, could readily assemble a formidable force to oppose nomad raiding parties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

New stars have been born and others have been scattered out across the cold recesses of Internet space.

TechCrunch

Therefore, the SNR estimate of +2 dB (mean value) also takes into account some of the power scattered out from the specular direction by the metal plate.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

One can expect that the RSR of C atoms should be approximately two times smaller than that of H atoms, if the above three processes have the similar probability and the relevant particulates are scattered out in the same efficiency.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Fragments of the Imaginos script are scattered out-of-context throughout the songs of the first four albums, where the original meanings are lost to listeners unaware of the larger picture.

Wikipedia

The plug-in module ApoTome™ enabled the taking of pseudoconfocal, scattered out-of-focus light-free images using transmission grids and corresponding algorithms.

Breast Cancer Research

In it, he scatters out the evidence but refrains from concluding that the paintings are not Goya's.

The New York Times - Magazine

Scattering out around the goals and small pitches informal games are played in mixed groups as pretty much every kid here takes a turn to demonstrate their range of tricks, traps and flicks on that wondrous green shag.

The Guardian - Sport

BSEs can scatter out from deep inside the sample and be detected.

Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "scattered out" is commonly used, consider using just "scattered" for conciseness and grammatical correctness. For example, instead of saying "The toys were scattered out across the room", you could say "The toys were scattered across the room".

Common error

Avoid using "scattered out" when "scattered" alone sufficiently conveys the meaning. The addition of "out" is often unnecessary and can make your writing sound less polished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scattered out" primarily functions as a phrasal verb to describe the action of something being distributed randomly or spread across an area. Ludwig identifies its usage in contexts ranging from physical objects to abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "scattered out" is frequently used to describe something spread randomly or dispersed, Ludwig AI and many sources suggest that the simpler term "scattered" often suffices. The phrase is most commonly found in news, scientific, and wiki contexts, exhibiting a neutral to informal register. Although generally acceptable, writers should be mindful of redundancy and aim for conciseness by considering "scattered" alone or alternatives like "spread out" or "dispersed" for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dispersed

A more formal term indicating the act of scattering.

spread around

Emphasizes the distribution of something over an area.

distributed

Implies a more organized or even scattering.

strewn about

Highlights a random or haphazard scattering.

strewn about

Highlights a random or haphazard scattering.

dotted around

Suggests a scattering of small items in various locations.

strewn around

Highlights a random scattering of small items in various locations.

dotted about

Suggests a scattering of small items in various locations.

dissipated

Implies a gradual scattering until nothing is left.

spread apart

Emphasizes the separation between scattered items.

FAQs

Is "scattered out" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "scattered out" isn't considered strictly grammatically correct. Using "scattered" alone is often sufficient and more grammatically sound. Alternatives include using "spread out" or "dispersed" depending on the context.

What does "scattered out" mean?

"Scattered out" typically means spread randomly or dispersed across an area. It describes something that is not concentrated in one place but is distributed in a somewhat irregular manner. It's very similar to "spread out".

How can I use "scattered out" in a sentence?

You can use "scattered out" to describe objects, people, or ideas that are distributed across an area. For example, "The protesters were scattered out along the street" or "Hints of the solution were scattered out throughout the document".

What are some alternatives to "scattered out"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "distributed", "dispersed", "spread around", or "strewn about".