strewn

USAGE SUMMARY

"strewn" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb meaning to scatter or spread throughout. Example sentence: The area was strewn with broken glass after the bottle was smashed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

A responsible government would surely now redesign the application forms for opening a free school so that applicants' personal information isn't strewn all the way through it, and see to it that materials are redacted and released quickly and cheaply.

The Guardian

The last time we see Emmanuelle Riva in Amour, she's lying pale and lifeless on a double bed, petals strewn about her head, the lights turned down low and the shutters closed.

The Guardian - Film

Blake Lively's arm is strewn with images of butterflies on barbed wire.

The Guardian - Film

The strewn debris and broken rocks round our feet marked its route.

The Guardian - Travel

"Everything is strewn all over the glacier," Cienski said in a video dispatch recorded on Monday as helicopters flew overhead.

The Guardian

For more and more people in London, this is what winning in the housing market now means: the right to spend a few more months in a flat that may be damp and strewn with rodent carcasses.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Conditions at the Scuola Verde first aid centre, Augusta's only emergency shelter for migrant children, are increasingly grim, with overcrowded dormitories and rubbish-strewn hallways.

The Guardian

It takes a certain type of person to spend an entire summer's day in a tent-strewn field surrounded by presidential candidates.

The Guardian

But for me, on holiday to the verdant, fruit-strewn island, the conflict seemed remote.

The Guardian - Travel

I don't know what I'd expected of the Atlas, but it wasn't the pretty blossom-strewn villages that scattered the hillsides, the rusty-hued cubist cottages softened by haze, like something from an impressionist painting.

The Guardian - Travel

He feels that he owes the manager, Arsène Wenger, for helping him through an error-strewn and injury-curtailed first season and he is ready to extend his contract beyond June 2015.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strewn" to vividly describe a scene where items are scattered in a seemingly random or disordered manner. This word is particularly effective in narrative or descriptive writing to create a specific atmosphere.

Common error

Avoid using "strewn" interchangeably with verbs that imply a more organized arrangement, such as "arranged" or "placed". "Strew" implies a lack of order, while "arranged" suggests intentionality.

Linguistic Context

"Strewn" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb "strew", describing a state where something has been scattered or spread loosely. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage as seen in numerous examples, indicating a scene or area covered in a dispersed manner.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strewn" is the past participle of "strew", used to describe something scattered or spread loosely. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various authoritative sources, particularly in News & Media. While grammatically correct and versatile, it's important to differentiate "strewn" from similar verbs that imply a more organized arrangement. Be mindful of this distinction to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strewn around

Adds emphasis to the distribution of the items, maintaining the core meaning.

scattered

Refers to items spread randomly over an area, similar to "strewn" but with a broader application.

scattered around

Adds emphasis to the randomness and wider area of distribution.

littered

Suggests items are scattered carelessly or are unwanted, adding a negative connotation not always present in "strewn".

spread out

Highlights the act of extending or unfolding across a surface.

distributed

Implies a more even or deliberate spreading of items than "strewn".

bestrewed

A less common, more formal synonym for "strewn" which emphasizes the act of scattering.

sprinkled

Indicates a light scattering, often of small particles or items.

covered

Indicates a surface is entirely layered with something.

broadcast

Describes something that has been spread or transmitted widely and openly.

FAQs

How is "strewn" used in a sentence?

The word "strewn" is used to describe something that has been scattered or spread loosely over a surface or area. For instance, "The path was strewn with leaves" indicates that leaves were scattered across the path.

What are some synonyms for "strewn"?

Alternatives to "strewn" include "scattered", "littered", "spread", and "sprinkled". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "strewned" instead of "strewn"?

No, "strewned" is not a correct form. "Strewn" is the past participle of the verb "strew". The past tense is "strewed", but the past participle is "strewn".

What's the difference between "strewn" and "scattered"?

While both words describe something spread loosely, "strewn" often implies a less organized or more haphazard distribution than "scattered". "Scattered" can also suggest a more forceful or active dispersal.