scattered widely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scattered widely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is distributed over a large area or among many people or things. Example: "The seeds were scattered widely across the field, ensuring a diverse growth of plants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

But estimates for the future are scattered widely.

The New York Times

The dots would be scattered widely, perhaps, with promising leads indistinguishable from rubbish.

The New York Times

Upon the make-up of the ticket they are scattered widely.

The New York Times

The smoke jumpers then collected their supplies, which had scattered widely, and grabbed a quick bite to eat.

Harvard Business Review

Most of Shandong's institutions of higher education are located in the provincial capital, Jinan, with smaller or special-purpose schools scattered widely throughout the province.

Britannica

The population is scattered widely and, to participate in the caucuses, people have to spend at least a couple of hours at the nearest voting precinct.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

At other times, the constituent families may scatter widely because food and water are scarce.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The seed coats in the fruit survive their rapid passage through the gut of these animals, who thus scatter widely the still viable seeds of the plant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Results from studies with small sample size should scatter widely at the bottom of the graph, with the spread narrowing as the sample sizes increase.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

In the absence of bias, results from small studies should scatter widely at the bottom of the graph, with the spread narrowing among larger studies.

BMC Cancer

And we wouldn't be publishing sacks of messages News Corp lobbyists scattered insanely widely round Whitehall.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scattered widely", ensure the subject of the sentence is something that can logically be distributed across a space or among a group.

Common error

While "scattered widely" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your prose sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "broadly distributed" or "extensively dispersed" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scattered widely" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, describing how something is distributed. It modifies verbs to indicate the manner or extent of the scattering, suggesting a broad or extensive distribution.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

18%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scattered widely" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a broad and often random distribution. It is considered grammatically correct and is commonly used across various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias. Ludwig's examples demonstrate the phrase's versatility in describing the distribution of physical objects, populations, and abstract data. Alternatives include "widely dispersed" and "spread extensively", providing similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Remember to vary your language to avoid repetition, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

widely dispersed

Changes the verb to 'dispersed', providing a slightly more formal tone.

spread extensively

Replaces 'scattered' with 'spread' and 'widely' with 'extensively', altering the imagery slightly.

distributed broadly

Substitutes 'scattered' with 'distributed' and 'widely' with 'broadly', offering a more formal alternative.

strewn about

Uses a different verb, 'strewn', to suggest a more random or haphazard distribution.

dotted around

Employs the verb 'dotted' to visualize points or objects distributed over an area.

scattered around

It replaces "widely" with "around" limiting the scope of the dispersion.

far and wide

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of extensive distribution.

across a wide area

Rephrases the idea using a prepositional phrase, emphasizing the area covered.

all over the place

Offers a more informal, colloquial way to express widespread distribution.

in every direction

Focuses on the directional aspect of the distribution, implying movement outwards.

FAQs

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

You can use "scattered widely" to describe how items or entities are distributed over a large area or among numerous instances. For instance, "The debris was "scattered widely" after the explosion" or "The population is "scattered widely" throughout the rural areas".

What are some alternatives to using "scattered widely"?

Alternatives to "scattered widely" include "widely dispersed", "spread extensively", or "distributed broadly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "scattered widely" or "widely scattered"?

Both "scattered widely" and "widely scattered" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different emphasis. "Scattered widely" emphasizes the action of scattering, while "widely scattered" emphasizes the state of being scattered. Context determines the better choice.

What does "scattered widely" imply about the distribution?

"Scattered widely" implies that the distribution is extensive and often random, covering a large area or a significant number of instances without a clear pattern. It can also mean the distribution is sparse or infrequent.