thinly distributed

USAGE SUMMARY

"thinly distributed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is spread out over a large area but in small amounts. An example could be: "The resources were thinly distributed across the region." Alternative expressions include "sparsely distributed" and "widely scattered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

This month, they are reconvening in Sacramento with officials from other rehab-facility-dense communities in the state to consider legislation requiring treatment centers to be more thinly distributed.

The New York Times

One problem is that the costs of any item of expenditure are thinly distributed across a large population, which thus has little reason to oppose them, whereas the benefits are often concentrated in a small population, which thus clamours for them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the former, investigation has shown thinly distributed population remnants.

Wikipedia

Its numbers are declining in Morvan and Ariège, and is thinly distributed in Brittany.

Wikipedia

The asteroid material is so thinly distributed that numerous unmanned spacecraft have traversed it without incident.

Wikipedia

Camas and forbs thrived in the thinly distributed seasonal wetlands along the river and its larger tributary creeks.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This is precisely the situation for thinly-distributed "apex predators", such as the New World's puma and jaguar.

The Guardian

Roberts does concede that there is still racial discrimination, and that it might even be a problem for voting — he just treats it as something that has dissipated like a mist, thinly and evenly distributed in the American air, not needing the "extraordinary" measures of the V.R.A.

The New Yorker

Approximately 1 g of seeds was distributed thinly over the surface of 15 mL of four different basal liquid media, i.e. Murashige and Skoog (MS, 1962), Mitra et al. (1976), Kundson (KC, 1946) and Gamborg et al. (B 5, 1968), in test tubes.

AoB PLANTS

More importantly, because the Conservative vote is distributed more thinly across the UK (they don't pile up huge majorities on council housing estates like Labour does), where they did win a constituency on first preferences their majority would be more liable to be overturned in later rounds.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since the eggs are distributed so thinly over the hot pan, it doesn't take long to cook.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thinly distributed", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being spread out and the area over which it's distributed. For example, "The funding was thinly distributed across several projects".

Common error

Avoid using "thinly distributed" when describing something that is generally abundant. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing scarcity or insufficient concentration over a large area.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thinly distributed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or noun phrase to describe how something is spread out. As Ludwig confirms, it accurately conveys that something is scattered or dispersed in a sparse manner.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Wiki

29%

Science

29%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thinly distributed" functions as a way to describe something that is spread out sparsely over a wide area. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and applicability across various contexts. While primarily found in news, wiki, and scientific sources, its usage implies a somewhat formal register. Remember to use it when you want to convey a lack of concentration or sufficiency. Alternatives like "sparsely scattered" or "widely dispersed" can provide similar meanings with subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sparsely scattered

Emphasizes the low density and scattered nature of the distribution.

widely dispersed

Highlights the broad area over which something is spread.

unevenly spread

Focuses on the lack of uniformity in the distribution.

scattered sparsely

Similar to 'sparsely scattered' but with a slightly different word order.

diffusely spread

Suggests a gradual and indistinct spreading.

meagerly distributed

Highlights the insufficiency of the distribution.

thin on the ground

An idiomatic expression indicating scarcity and sparse distribution.

few and far between

Emphasizes the rarity and distance between instances.

patchily distributed

Indicates a distribution in irregular clumps or patches.

infrequently found

Focuses on the rarity of encountering the distributed item.

FAQs

How can I use "thinly distributed" in a sentence?

You can use "thinly distributed" to describe something that is spread out over a large area with low density. For example, "The population was "thinly distributed" across the rural landscape".

What's a good alternative to "thinly distributed"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "sparsely scattered", "widely dispersed", or "unevenly spread".

Is it correct to say "densely distributed" instead of "thinly distributed"?

No, "densely distributed" has the opposite meaning. "Thinly distributed" implies a low concentration, while "densely distributed" implies a high concentration within a given area.

What does "thinly distributed" imply about the resources?

Using "thinly distributed" often implies that the resources or elements being described are not sufficient or are stretched too far to have a significant impact in any one location.