take a wider view

USAGE SUMMARY

"Take a wider view" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest looking at something from a broader perspective, analyzing or considering it on a larger scale. For example: "If you want to find a solution to this problem, try to take a wider view."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"That helps me take a wider view of it.

The Guardian

As you'd expect, the fishermen take a wider view than the scientists.

The Guardian

While the potentially heroic cyclist Victoria Pendleton tells us that nothing, absolutely nothing, matters to her more than a successful performance, some take a wider view.

Independent

But when it stops, even for a moment, people can take a wider view: there were soldiers who went bird-watching in the trenches and in prisoner-of-war camps.

Independent

These will be drawn up by unelected regional assemblies, which (Whitehall hopes) will take a wider view and (as Whitehall knows but wouldn't dream of saying) will be more responsive to central government.

The Economist

"We think the Charity Commission will take account of that and take a wider view than the Scottish regulator, who placed a narrow emphasis on means-tested bursaries," he says.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Yes, it has been all year, but outside any fan's particular home team or conference, it has become increasingly difficult not to hit the snooze button and wait to take a wide view of college basketball.

The New York Times - Sports

The government should take a wide view in assessing health inequalities and support not just NHS efforts but programmes that address the wider determinants of health, she says.The highest priority, Sir Michael suggests, is to ensure that every child has a good start in life by concentrating on poorer children during their earliest years.

The Economist

If Mr. Hoffman got the short end of the stick, his wife takes a wider view.

The New York Times - Travel

While some investors consider Wall Street firms to be inscrutable black boxes, Mr. Miller takes a wider view.

The New York Times

That said, taking a wider view of women's earning potential shows the myopia of a month-by-month assessment of income versus expenditures.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When analyzing complex situations, "take a wider view" to identify underlying patterns and connections that might be missed with a narrow focus.

Common error

Avoid using "take a wider view" when the context requires a deeper, more detailed analysis instead of a broader perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a wider view" functions as an idiomatic expression used to advise or suggest a broader, more comprehensive consideration of a topic, situation, or problem. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a wider view" is a common idiom that encourages a more comprehensive and holistic perspective. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. The phrase functions to suggest analyzing situations by considering the bigger picture, and it's important to remember that while a wider view is often beneficial, it's crucial to balance it with attention to specific details when necessary. Consider using alternatives such as "adopt a broader perspective" or "consider the bigger picture" for nuanced emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adopt a broader perspective

Focuses on the act of embracing a more inclusive viewpoint.

consider the bigger picture

Emphasizes understanding the overall context and implications.

see the forest for the trees

Highlights the importance of not getting lost in details and recognizing the larger context.

look at the situation holistically

Suggests examining all aspects of a situation and their interdependencies.

broaden one's horizons

Implies expanding one's understanding and awareness.

get a bird's-eye view

Suggests gaining an overview from a high-level perspective.

think more globally

Focuses on considering wider implications and interconnectedness.

expand one's scope

Indicates widening the range of consideration or investigation.

zoom out

Suggests shifting from a detailed view to a more general overview.

take the long view

Focuses on considering long-term consequences and implications.

FAQs

How can I use "take a wider view" in a sentence?

You can use "take a wider view" when you want to suggest considering a situation or problem from a broader perspective. For example, "To solve this issue, we need to "take a wider view" and consider all the contributing factors."

What does it mean to "take a wider view"?

To "take a wider view" means to consider something from a more comprehensive or holistic perspective, rather than focusing on isolated details or narrow aspects.

What can I say instead of "take a wider view"?

You can use alternatives like "adopt a broader perspective", "consider the bigger picture", or "see the forest for the trees" depending on the context.

Is it better to "take a wider view" or focus on the details?

It depends on the situation. Sometimes, it's important to focus on the details to understand the specifics, while other times, "taking a wider view" is necessary to see the overall context and interconnections.