sweeping change

USAGE SUMMARY

"sweeping change" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a great deal of change has taken place, either in a short time or in a comprehensive manner. For example, "The new government has made sweeping changes to the country's health care system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Albany needs sweeping change.

The New York Times

Hence the demands for sweeping change.

The Economist

Sweeping change is in the air.

The Economist

Far less obvious, though, is the need for sweeping change.

The Economist

Who would vote for anything but sweeping change?

The Guardian - Opinion

Moments like that, and the forthcoming tax rules, hint at sweeping change.

The New Yorker

Charlotte's popular reign provided stability during a time of sweeping change.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But if we are to live in Remainia, we should insist on sweeping change.

The Guardian - Opinion

By winning all four playoff games against Detroit, the Nets initiated sweeping change.

The New York Times - Sports

But Mr. Mehri's vision for corporate America involves sweeping change, not the piecemeal kind.

The New York Times

Each can offer Mr. Modi something he needs: a mandate strong enough to endorse sweeping change.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sweeping change" to convey a sense of breadth and depth in the transformation. For instance, instead of saying "The company made many changes", specify "The company implemented sweeping changes to its organizational structure" to highlight the extensive nature of the transformation.

Common error

Avoid using "sweeping change" when the changes are only minor or incremental. Using it inaccurately can diminish the credibility of your writing. Ensure the changes genuinely represent a substantial transformation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweeping change" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "sweeping" modifies the noun "change". As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and widely used. The examples show its use in various contexts to describe substantial or widespread transformations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science & Research

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Sports

3%

Opinion

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sweeping change" is a correct and widely used phrase, as supported by Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase denoting a significant and extensive transformation. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications, indicating its versatility. The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and media, emphasizing substantial alterations. While alternatives such as "radical transformation" and "extensive overhaul" offer nuanced expressions, "sweeping change" remains a powerful and universally understood way to describe broad and impactful modifications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

radical transformation

Emphasizes the fundamental and profound nature of the change.

extensive overhaul

Highlights a thorough and comprehensive restructuring.

major restructuring

Focuses on reorganizing the structure significantly.

fundamental shift

Suggests a change in the basic nature or character.

comprehensive reform

Implies a systematic and thorough improvement.

significant alteration

Indicates an important modification or adjustment.

wholesale revision

Highlights a complete or large-scale amendment.

far-reaching modification

Suggests the changes will have impact on distant things.

large-scale amendment

Similar to wholesale revision, but perhaps less complete.

profound adjustment

Implies a deep and impactful change.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "sweeping change" in a sentence?

Use "sweeping change" to describe situations where transformations are broad and comprehensive. For example, "The new policy introduced a "sweeping change" in the way the company handles employee benefits".

What are some alternatives to "sweeping change"?

You can use alternatives like "radical transformation", "extensive overhaul", or "major restructuring" depending on the specific context.

Is "sweeping change" formal or informal?

"Sweeping change" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but consider the audience and ensure the tone matches the content. In highly formal documents, "comprehensive reform" or "fundamental shift" might be more appropriate.

What distinguishes "sweeping change" from "significant alteration"?

"Sweeping change" suggests a more extensive and widespread impact compared to "significant alteration", which implies a noteworthy but possibly more localized modification. The term you choose should match the magnitude of the changes being described.