too spread over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too spread over" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used to describe something that is excessively distributed or dispersed across a wide area or range. Example: "The resources were too spread over the project, making it difficult to manage effectively."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, some states (e.g. Missouri) limited their initial assessment to an examination of case series and would stop their investigation after determining that the reported cancer cases in a perceived cluster were too dissimilar or too spread over time and/ or space to warrant further study.

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Among these too many motorized users there is too much irresponsible behavior spread over too much area, too ineffectually prevented by too few law enforcement officers with too little officially mandated motivation.

Huffington Post

But critics say the Bush proposal would fail as stimulus because the tax cut would be spread over too many years and would put too much money into the hands of the wealthy, who are considered the least likely to spend it.

The New York Times

It is short some key paintings, lacks fresh scholarship and, from the looks of the sweeping opening views of the galleries, is both padded with works on paper and spread over too much space.

The New York Times

And to shut down the reactor, engineers say, the fuel would simply be allowed to flow into a container of a different shape, one that would not sustain a chain reaction because the liquid would be spread over too big an area.

The New York Times - Science

Despite its wealth the kingdom has spent less on its favoured rebel groups than Iran has on propping up the regime of Bashar Assad; what it has spent it spread over too many groups, failing to co-ordinate its efforts with others.Things may be changing.

The Economist

By contrast, MS of an oligo conjugated to a polydisperse support would be spread over too many polymeric homologues to provide sufficiently intense peaks for analysis.

Chemistry - A European Journal

Also, too much sweet sauces are spread over the fish and meat".

The New York Times

Engineering costs are spread over more vehicles.

Forbes

On the other hand, a Gaussian wave packet centered on a classical trajectory is thought to be able to shadow that trajectory up to \(t_{E}\) before becoming too spread out over the energy surface since \(t_{E}\) is a measure of when quantum wave packets have spread too much to mimic classical trajectories and the Ehrenfest theorem breaks down.

SEP

British troops were too thinly spread over too many areas.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing distribution, consider using more conventional phrases like "widely distributed" or "spread thinly" for improved clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "too spread over" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives such as "too widely distributed" to ensure your message is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

Descriptive phrase. "Too spread over" functions to describe the state of something being excessively distributed or extended across an area or a group. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase, while understandable, is not considered standard English, making it potentially unclear or grammatically awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too spread over" is used to describe something excessively distributed. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is not considered standard English, advising caution in formal writing. While understandable, it is better replaced by alternatives like "too widely distributed" or ""distributed too thinly"" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. The phrase appears in various contexts, including news media and scientific articles, but its informal nature suggests it is best reserved for casual communication. Utilizing more precise language ensures your message is clearly and professionally conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively distributed

Replaces the idiomatic "spread over" with the more direct term "distributed", while retaining the sense of being too much.

overly dispersed

Emphasizes the scattering aspect, similar to "spread", but uses a more formal term.

too widely scattered

Highlights the broad distribution and the excessiveness of it.

distributed too thinly

Focuses on the lack of concentration due to excessive distribution.

spread too thinly

Simple structural change that sounds more natural.

excessively diffused

Similar to "dispersed" but emphasizing the lack of clear boundaries or concentration.

too extensively covered

Focuses on the area or scope being affected, rather than the distribution itself.

over-extended

Implies a strain or weakening due to being spread across too many areas or responsibilities.

excessively diffused throughout

Highlights the dispersion into many directions.

overly fragmented

Emphasizes the broken-up nature of the distribution.

FAQs

Is "too spread over" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "too spread over" is not considered standard English. Alternatives like "too widely distributed" or "spread too thinly" are generally preferred.

What does "too spread over" mean?

It suggests that something is distributed across an area or among many recipients to an excessive degree, potentially diminishing its effectiveness. For example, a budget might be "distributed too thinly".

How can I rephrase "too spread over" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "excessively distributed", "overly dispersed", or "too widely scattered".

When is it appropriate to use "too spread over"?

While not recommended for formal writing, "too spread over" might be used in informal conversation. However, opting for more standard alternatives ensures clarity in most situations.