spans across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'spans across' is correct and usable in written English.
It means that something covers a large area or time period and is typically used with a place or time interval to describe the extent of something. For example, "Her career spans across three decades."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Again, it spans across industry sectors.

Cornell University

Independent work spans across all demographics.

Cornell University

This then influenced the distribution of life spans across cohorts.

Experimental Gerontology

Just as journalism spans across both celebrity news and science explainers, aggregators also run the gamut.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Support for strengthening online privacy spans across all ages, races and political affiliations.

The Washington Post

In a wireless communication network environment, the service traffic spans across the wired and wireless domains.

Journal of Systems and Software

An enterprise network, sometimes called a campus network, is a network that spans across multiple buildings.

How to Cheat at Securing a Wireless Network

Peloton's architecture shows that the impact of NVM spans across all the layers of the DBMS.

Princeton University

The applicability of HYB spans across all wireless environments, including line-of-sight and dense multipath scenarios.

Ad Hoc Networks

The applied acceleration spans across the threshold value when laminarization is expected to occur for flat plate geometries.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

This exhibition spans across the history of photography from daguerreotypes, the first photographic process, to contemporary digital prints.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spans across" to vividly describe the breadth or scope of a subject, ensuring that the context clearly defines the range being covered. For example, "The festival spans across multiple venues." This is more impactful than merely stating the festival is large.

Common error

Avoid using "spans across" when a simpler verb like "covers" or "includes" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. Opt for direct and concise language when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spans across" functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb (or noun) to indicate the range or extent of something, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "the bridge spans across the dome space" and "the partnership spans across Europe, the U.S. and Brazil".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

30%

News & Media

37%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spans across" is a prepositional phrase indicating the extent or range of something across a particular area, time, or domain. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and versatile for both formal and informal contexts, with frequent usage in academic, news, and scientific writing. While "spans across" is commonly used, avoid overuse and consider simpler alternatives like "covers" or "includes" for clarity. Using the phrase helps convey the breadth or scope of the subject, making it a valuable tool in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stretches across

Indicates a physical or temporal expansion.

extends over

Indicates a physical or metaphorical reach over something.

encompasses

Implies a complete inclusion of different aspects or elements.

covers the extent of

Highlights the degree to which something is included or dealt with.

reaches throughout

Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the coverage.

ranges over

Suggests a variety or spectrum covered.

crosses over

Implies movement or influence from one area to another.

pervades

Suggests something that spreads throughout every part.

traverses

Highlights a journey or path across something.

integrates

Emphasizes unification or incorporation across boundaries.

FAQs

What does "spans across" mean?

The phrase "spans across" means to extend or spread over an area, time period, or range of subjects. It indicates that something covers or includes a wide scope.

How can I use "spans across" in a sentence?

You can use "spans across" to describe the extent of something. For example, "The project "extends over" several departments" or "Her influence "reaches throughout" the organization".

What are some alternatives to "spans across"?

Alternatives include phrases like "extends over", "covers the extent of", or "encompasses", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "spans across" in formal writing?

Yes, "spans across" is appropriate for formal writing, as it is grammatically correct and widely used in academic, business, and news contexts. However, ensure that its use is precise and contributes to the clarity of your writing.