swathes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "swathes" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to large areas or expanses of something, often in a figurative sense, such as swathes of land or swathes of people. Example: "The new policy will affect swathes of the population, particularly those in low-income brackets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

About how the United States turned swathes of the desert radioactive during the cold war and denied it, bequeathing a medical mystery which to this day haunts Hollywood and rural Mormon communities and raises a thorny question: how much should you trust the government?

The Guardian - Film

"We live in a world where it feels as though the darkness is falling ever more severely on whole swathes and regions and in which the light of the news often seems to go out," he said.

The Guardian

Not content with annexing every dinner party conversation and huge swathes of the television schedules, England's Greed is Good division set out to conquer the world with Game 39, or the international round: a proposal, unveiled in February last year, to play 10 games between the 20 Premier League clubs each January, in different cities and time-zones around the world.

The Guardian - Sport

Today, the gracious palazzo and the nearby wild coastline of the Punta Licosa are all that remain of the Belmonte estates which once covered swathes of southern Italy and Spain and were famous for their olives and wine which made the family rich and powerful.

The Guardian - Travel

The prospect that Islamabad could send troops emerged last Thursday when Saudi Arabia announced that it had agreed to join the coalition of Muslim states, which includes Egypt and Kuwait, aiming to stem the advance of the Houthi forces that have seized large swathes of Yemen.

The Guardian

"The same is true in Bangladesh, Pakistan, across great swathes of Africa.

The Guardian - Books

The defence secretary, Michael Fallon announced an additional deployment of British combat-ready troops numbering "in the low hundreds" to help train local forces battling Isis forces, who control vast swathes of northen Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

The Guardian

We're not going and clearfelling great swathes of land".

The Guardian

Vast swathes of global technology businesses such as IBM, Google and Yahoo are attracted by the city's English and computer savvy labour force.

The Guardian

If the yellow swathes of Ecuadorians in the Dockers stands was not strange enough, the game lurched from one bizarre turn to the next throughout an enthralling 90 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

In the absence of any serious contenders, huge swathes of the constituency could choose to ignore the election and turnout is expected to fall below 50%.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "swathes", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being covered extensively. For example, "swathes of forest" or "swathes of the population" provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "swathes" in casual conversation or informal writing. It is generally more appropriate for formal or descriptive contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "swathes" is typically as a noun, referring to large areas or expanses. It is often used to describe land, populations, or other measurable entities. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "swathes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe large areas or expanses. Ludwig AI indicates that it is suitable for formal and descriptive contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific writing. To ensure clarity, specify what is being covered by "swathes", such as "swathes of land" or "swathes of the population". Alternatives include ""large areas"", "vast expanses", and "broad sections", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large areas

Replaces "swathes" with a more general term for extensive regions.

vast expanses

Emphasizes the scale and openness of the areas in question.

broad sections

Suggests dividing something into wide-ranging segments.

extensive regions

Highlights the geographical scope of the areas.

wide stretches

Focuses on the elongated shape and extent of the areas.

significant portions

Implies that the areas are important or meaningful in some way.

considerable tracts

Conveys a sense of large, continuous areas, often of land.

extensive stretches

Similar to wide stretches, emphasizing length and continuity.

large segments

Indicates division into sizeable parts or sections.

broad swathes

Redundant repetition of the source word

FAQs

How can I use "swathes" in a sentence?

"Swathes" typically refers to large areas or expanses. For example, "The fire consumed "large areas" of the forest" or "The new policy affected "extensive regions" of the population".

What is the meaning of "swathes"?

"Swathes" refers to large or wide areas or strips of something. It often suggests a significant or extensive portion of a surface or population.

What can I say instead of "swathes"?

You can use alternatives like ""large areas"", "vast expanses", or "broad sections" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "swathes" to describe groups of people?

Yes, "swathes" can be used to describe large groups of people, particularly when referring to segments of a population affected by something. For example, "swathes of the population were affected by the economic downturn".