think narrowly

USAGE SUMMARY

"think narrowly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to advise someone to think of a solution to a problem using a narrow focus. For example, "When you're trying to solve this problem, it's best to think narrowly and consider every detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This is part of a broader tendency to think narrowly when evaluating information and making decisions.

Harvard Business Review

People tend to think narrowly about it," said Ms. Kawano of Yamagata University, adding that affirmative action programs might be necessary because "women are struggling against social discrimination".

The New York Times

Asked for advice for current students who wish to pursue careers in finance, Yellen said they should not think narrowly but take an expansive view of their jobs and essentially bring concenrs to the attention of policy makers.

Columbia University

So if you think narrowly about your job, don't be surprised when the broader community thinks narrowly about what your job is worth.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Maybe you should sort your life out, you think, narrowly avoiding buckling one-legged into the road.

Vice

Second, stereotypes – even innocuous ones – are troublesome for a number of reasons: They lead us to think narrowly about people before we get to know them, they can justify discrimination and oppression, and, for members of stereotyped groups, they can even lead to depression and other mental health problems.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Instead, he thought narrowly – sometimes too narrowly – about "what it would take to resolve the question".  .

BBC

I also think that narrowly focusing on college completion is not a good thing.

The Washington Post

Think too narrowly about the current role on offer; look for ways to tailor the job to your skills, expertise, and interests.

Harvard Business Review

In case Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto are both prevented from running by the ICC, they have poached Musalia Mudavadi, a lesser light in Mr Odinga's party, to lead their alliance instead.Most observers think Mr Odinga narrowly won the last presidential contest but had to settle for the lesser job of prime minister in a coalition following the disputed election.

The Economist

Some argue that highly expressed genes are more compact to reduce the cost of transcription ('selection for economy' model), while others think that narrowly expressed genes are not compact because the introns or noncoding regions of the genes are involved in more complex expression regulation ('genome design' model).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "think narrowly", ensure the context clarifies what broader perspective is being missed. This provides a balanced view, preventing the phrase from simply sounding critical.

Common error

Avoid using "think narrowly" as a standalone criticism without explaining why a broader perspective is necessary or beneficial. Without context, it becomes a vague, unhelpful critique.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "think narrowly" functions as a verb phrase, typically used with an adverb to modify the action of thinking. It describes the manner in which someone is considering a subject, indicating a limited or restricted focus. Ludwig provides examples that illustrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "think narrowly" is grammatically correct and, according to Ludwig AI, suggests a limited or restricted focus in one's reasoning. It's most frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts. While the phrase is generally used critically, it's important to provide context when using it, specifying why a broader perspective is needed. Alternatives include "have a limited perspective" or "adopt a tunnel vision approach". The quality analysis indicates consistent usage in authoritative sources, reinforcing its validity and clarity. When writing, avoid using "think narrowly" as a vague criticism and instead clarify what broader elements are being missed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a limited perspective

Focuses on the extent of one's viewpoint rather than the act of thinking.

have a restricted focus

Emphasizes the constrained area of attention.

focus on specifics

Highlights concentration on details, which may imply overlooking the bigger picture.

adopt a tunnel vision approach

Uses a metaphor to suggest a very narrow and constrained viewpoint.

see things in a limited way

Shifts the emphasis to the manner of perception.

view with a limited scope

Similar to having a limited perspective but puts more emphasis on viewing.

consider in isolation

Focuses on the act of taking a certain thing and giving it specific and segmented attention.

have a myopic view

Uses the term myopic which means lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.

think in a box

Emphasizes the lack of creativity implied in "think narrowly".

confine thoughts

Highlights the containment and limitation of thoughts.

FAQs

How can I use "think narrowly" in a sentence?

You can use "think narrowly" to describe a situation where someone is focusing on a limited aspect of a problem and failing to see the bigger picture. For example, "The committee is "thinking narrowly" about budget cuts and not considering the long-term effects".

What are some alternatives to "think narrowly"?

Some alternatives to "think narrowly" include "have a limited perspective", "have a restricted focus", or "adopt a tunnel vision approach".

Is it always negative to "think narrowly"?

While "think narrowly" often implies a negative connotation, in certain situations, focusing on specifics can be beneficial, especially when precision is required. However, it's crucial to balance a narrow focus with a broader understanding of the overall context.

What does it mean to "think outside the box" versus "think narrowly"?

"Think outside the box" is the opposite of "think narrowly". Thinking outside the box means approaching a problem with a creative and unconventional mindset, while "think narrowly" means focusing on a limited set of possibilities and failing to consider alternative solutions.