scattered with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scattered with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe how an object is covered with other objects. For example, "The snow was scattered with bright red holly berries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Serve scattered with parmesan.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Serve scattered with coriander.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The doormat scattered with love letters?

Independent

Serve scattered with fried coconut.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The novel is scattered with literary allusions.

The Guardian - Books

Serve scattered with extra crushed pistachios.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Serve in warmed soup plates, scattered with parsley.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At every ruck the ground was scattered with bodies.

The Guardian - Sport

The book is scattered with similarly meaningless characterizations.

The New York Times - Books

(That sentence might be scattered with italics and exclamation marks).

The New York Times - Books

The ground is scattered with pine needles and hay.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scattered with" to create vivid imagery by describing the distribution of items across a surface or area, such as "The field was scattered with wildflowers".

Common error

Avoid using "scattered with" when you mean something is completely covered. "Covered with" is more appropriate for dense coverings, while "scattered with" implies a less uniform distribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scattered with" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. It describes the distribution of elements across a surface or area, indicating a somewhat random or sparse arrangement. Ludwig confirms its validity and wide applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

25%

Travel

15%

Less common in

Books

10%

Wiki

5%

Arts

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "scattered with" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to describe the distribution of elements across a surface or area, creating a visual image for the reader. While its register is generally neutral, it appears most frequently in news, lifestyle, and travel contexts. Related phrases like "strewn with" or "dotted with" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific imagery you wish to evoke. Be mindful to differentiate from denser coverings, where phrases like "covered in" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strewn with

Emphasizes a more random and less organized distribution than "scattered with".

covered in

Suggests a denser and more complete covering than "scattered with".

littered with

Implies a messy or undesirable scattering, often of unwanted items.

dotted with

Suggests small, distinct points or spots distributed across a surface.

sprinkled with

Implies a light and even distribution, like shaking sprinkles on a cupcake.

populated with

Refers to living beings or entities distributed in an area.

bespeckled with

Suggests small spots or marks scattered across a surface.

streaked with

Implies long, thin lines or marks distributed across a surface.

interspersed with

Suggests elements placed at intervals among other things.

distributed across

Focuses on the act of spreading something out evenly.

FAQs

How do I use "scattered with" in a sentence?

"Scattered with" describes objects or elements that are distributed somewhat randomly over a surface or area. For example, "The table was scattered with crumbs" or "The sky was scattered with stars".

What are some alternatives to "scattered with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "strewn with", "dotted with", or "covered in".

Is it correct to say "scattered by" instead of "scattered with"?

While "scattered by" can be used to describe the action of something being dispersed (e.g. "The leaves were scattered by the wind"), "scattered with" describes the state of something having elements distributed across it (e.g. "The path was scattered with leaves").

What is the difference between "scattered with" and "littered with"?

"Scattered with" is a more neutral term, while "littered with" implies that the scattered items are undesirable or create a mess.