vastly great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vastly great" is not commonly used in written English and may sound redundant.
It can be used when emphasizing the extent of greatness, but it is better to choose a more concise expression. Example: "The artist's talent is vastly great, making her one of the most celebrated figures in contemporary art."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Stephenson has written before about Clark, and I've written here about those pieces; he offers a terrific introduction to the life and work of a musician who was one of the luminaries of modern jazz from 1953 through 1962, a hidden hard-bop hero whose compositions and accompaniments endure in vastly great disproportion to his profile as a bandleader.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

One is a vastly greater choice of potential partners.

The Economist

And the speeds at which this can happen are vastly greater than in Collins's time.

The New York Times

This is vastly greater than the cost of reconstruction after World War II.

Independent

A vastly greater financial commitment is needed to prevent the crisis from spreading, many analysts say.

The New York Times

Villages do have corruption, but the scale of corruption is vastly greater in cities".

The New York Times

While the crowds then were vastly greater, the messianic fervor appeared to be much the same.

The New York Times

The poor benefited from the vastly greater delivery of electricity and potable water.

The New York Times

That will create new business opportunities, vastly greater even than those the web has introduced.

The Guardian

The percentages do not reflect the vastly greater number of spots run by Mr. Obama.

The New York Times

This new wave in digital cameras allows a vastly greater sensitivity to light, yielding better pictures.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using a single, stronger adjective like "immense" or "tremendous" instead of "vastly great" for conciseness. While "vastly great" isn't incorrect, it can often be streamlined for better impact.

Common error

Avoid using "vastly great" when a single adjective already conveys the intended magnitude. Overusing adverbs like "vastly" can weaken your writing. Choose the most impactful word to describe the greatness you intend to express.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vastly great" functions primarily as an intensifier modifying an adjective. It aims to amplify the degree of greatness. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts where a significant degree of something is being described.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "vastly great" is grammatically acceptable but can be stylistically redundant. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's better to opt for more concise and impactful alternatives like "immensely great" or simply "immense". While its use isn't incorrect, streamlining your writing by avoiding unnecessary adverbs can strengthen your message. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media contexts, and while understood, careful consideration should be given to more impactful phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immensely great

Replaces "vastly" with "immensely", offering a similar level of intensity but with potentially smoother flow in some contexts.

tremendously great

Substitutes "vastly" with "tremendously", conveying a sense of significant magnitude or impact.

exceedingly great

Replaces "vastly" with "exceedingly", emphasizing the surpassing degree of greatness.

extremely great

Uses "extremely" instead of "vastly", conveying a high degree of greatness without redundancy.

remarkably great

Focuses on the unusual or noteworthy aspect of the greatness.

exceptionally great

Highlights the deviation from the norm in terms of greatness.

singularly great

Emphasizes the unique and unparalleled nature of the greatness.

profoundly great

Highlights the deep and far-reaching impact of the greatness.

spectacularly great

Emphasizes the visually impressive or dramatic aspect of the greatness.

incredibly great

Uses "incredibly" instead of "vastly", implying that the greatness is almost unbelievable.

FAQs

What does "vastly great" mean?

The phrase "vastly great" is used to emphasize that something is very great or large in degree. However, the term can be considered somewhat redundant, as "vastly" already implies a significant degree.

What are some alternatives to "vastly great"?

You can use alternatives such as "immensely great", "tremendously great", or simply "immense" or "tremendous" to convey a similar meaning with more concision.

Is "vastly great" grammatically correct?

Yes, "vastly great" is grammatically correct, but it may be stylistically less preferred due to potential redundancy. It is generally better to opt for more concise phrasing.

When is it appropriate to use "vastly great"?

The phrase "vastly great" can be used when you want to emphasize the sheer magnitude of something, though in many cases, a single adjective or a different adverb-adjective combination might be more effective. For example, consider using "exceptionally great".