to widen the scope

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "to widen the scope" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom that means to "broaden or enlarge the range or amount of something". For example, "The research team is attempting to widen the scope of their investigations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The second step is to widen the scope of sustainability.

The Guardian

"They need to widen the scope and take advantage of the expertise we have in neuroscience.

The Guardian

It seems they've learned from their mistakes and are trying to widen the scope".

The Guardian

Artistic director Madani Younis hopes to widen the scope of new writing.

The Guardian

The next stage will be to widen the scope of the system.

The Economist

By providing Explorer gratis, Microsoft eliminated Netscape's opportunity to widen the scope of its software and replace Windows.

Harvard Business Review

It takes you away from the ordinary and challenges you to widen the scope and look for alternatives that you didn't know were possible.

The Guardian

The absence of a judge seemed only to encourage Mr. Bolnick to widen the scope of questions, which became extremely personal at times.

The New York Times

Oil income is also plunging, limiting Mr. Chávez's ability to widen the scope of his social welfare programs, known as missions.

The New York Times

"We intend to widen the scope of environmental impact assessments of developments on reefs so that project activities that impact corals and coral reef habitats will be minimised".

The Guardian

He announced the use of spithoods and restraint chairs would be banned, despite his government having legislated just four months ago to widen the scope of their use.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to widen the scope" when you want to indicate that something is being made more inclusive, comprehensive, or extensive. Ensure that the context clearly benefits from this expansion.

Common error

Avoid using "to widen the scope" when a more focused or specific approach is needed. Expanding the scope inappropriately can dilute the effectiveness of an argument or project.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to widen the scope" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to express the purpose or intention behind an action. As Ludwig AI highlights, this idiom is commonly used to suggest a broadening or enlargement of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

22%

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to widen the scope" is a grammatically correct and versatile infinitive phrase used to convey the intention of broadening or expanding something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, especially in science, news, and business, to indicate making something more comprehensive or inclusive. While it's a common phrase, it's important to consider whether widening the scope aligns with the specific goals of a project or argument, avoiding unnecessary dilution of focus. Alternatives like "to expand the scope" or "to broaden the scope" can be used to express similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to expand the scope

Replaces "widen" with "expand", suggesting a growth in size or extent.

to broaden the scope

Substitutes "widen" with "broaden", emphasizing an increase in range or variety.

to extend the scope

Uses "extend" instead of "widen", implying a stretching or continuation of the scope.

to increase the scope

Replaces "widen" with "increase", focusing on a quantitative enlargement of the scope.

to enlarge the scope

Substitutes "widen" with "enlarge", suggesting a growth in overall size.

to amplify the scope

Uses "amplify" instead of "widen", implying an increase in intensity or effect.

to magnify the scope

Replaces "widen" with "magnify", suggesting a greater level of detail or importance.

to deepen the scope

Substitutes "widen" with "deepen", emphasizing an increased level of insight or understanding.

to elaborate on the scope

Uses "elaborate" instead of "widen", implying a more detailed or complex expansion.

to augment the scope

Replaces "widen" with "augment", suggesting an addition or enhancement to the scope.

FAQs

How can I use "to widen the scope" in a sentence?

You can use "to widen the scope" to indicate expanding the range or focus of something. For example, "The study aimed "to widen the scope" of its research to include international participants".

What's a good alternative to "to widen the scope"?

Alternatives include "to expand the scope", "to broaden the scope", or "to extend the scope", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always beneficial to widen the scope of a project?

Not necessarily. While widening the scope can make a project more comprehensive, it can also lead to a lack of focus and diluted results. Consider whether the expansion aligns with the project's primary goals.

How does "to widen the scope" differ from "to deepen the scope"?

"To widen the scope" refers to broadening the range or inclusiveness of something, while "to deepen the scope" implies increasing the depth of understanding or analysis within a particular area.