was very extensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was very extensive" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that covers a large area or is thorough in detail. Example: The research conducted on climate change was very extensive. Alternative expressions include "was quite comprehensive," "was highly detailed," and "was significantly broad."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

As one U.S. official described it: "The penetration was very extensive and deeply troubling".

The New York Times

The Sāsānian coinage was very extensive in silver, and the early emperors also coined gold and copper, although rarely.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The damage was very extensive.

BBC

When damage was very extensive we estimated PLA by matching the remaining area with a comparable intact leaflet of the same species.

Plosone

This might be explained by the fact that the training was very extensive.

British Journal of Nutrition

Given that in metazoans, perfect complementarity to only six nucleotides in the seed region of the small RNA and the target is sufficient to promote RNA silencing, like in Drosophila, the resulting list of candidate mRNA targets was very extensive [ 21, 48], even with the stringent parameters we set for the miRANDA output.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The land is very extensive and very thin-peopled.

The New Yorker

The Kansan glaciations appear to have been very extensive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Senate disclosure requirements are very extensive in terms of identifying any conflicts of interest".

The New York Times

Last fall, Stern said the investigation into Prokhorov would be "very extensive, stringent, some would say, invasive".

The New York Times - Sports

"They understand that they live in a country where there are very extensive protections through the law of the United States.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing research or investigations, use "was very extensive" to convey the depth and breadth of the work. Ensure the context clearly indicates what aspect was extensive, such as data collection, analysis, or geographical coverage.

Common error

While grammatically sound, relying too heavily on "very" can diminish the impact of your writing. Consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "comprehensive", "thorough", or "far-reaching" to enhance clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "was very extensive" is to act as a descriptive phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that something possessed a considerable range, scope, or degree. As Ludwig AI shows, it often describes damage, research, or coverage in various fields.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was very extensive" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something broad in scope or thorough in nature. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it commonly appears in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. While its usage isn't extremely frequent, the phrase serves to emphasize the breadth or depth of a subject, study, or event. Ludwig AI suggests using stronger synonyms like "comprehensive" or "thorough" for increased impact, and reminds users that overuse of 'very' weakens your writing. The related phrases offer ways to add variation to your language, emphasizing different nuances of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was quite comprehensive

This alternative suggests a thorough and complete coverage, emphasizing the completeness of the extent.

was exceptionally thorough

This emphasizes the completeness and attention to detail.

was extremely broad

This highlights the wide scope and reach of something, focusing on its breadth.

was highly detailed

This focuses on the level of intricacy and thoroughness, emphasizing the depth of coverage.

was far-reaching

Implies significant and widespread effects or consequences.

was remarkably widespread

This emphasizes the common or prevalent nature of something across a large area or among many people.

had a wide scope

This emphasizes the breadth and range of the subject or activity.

covered a great deal of ground

Emphasizes the amount of material or territory addressed.

spanned a large area

This is more literal, indicating the physical extent or coverage of something.

encompassed a vast range

Highlights the diversity and inclusiveness of something.

FAQs

What does "was very extensive" mean?

The phrase "was very extensive" means that something covered a large area, included a great amount of detail, or had a significant impact. It describes something broad in scope or thorough in nature.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "was very extensive"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the breadth, depth, or scope of something. For instance, you might say "the damage "was very extensive"" after a disaster, or "the research "was very extensive"" to highlight the thoroughness of a study.

What are some alternatives to "was very extensive"?

Alternatives include "was quite comprehensive", "was extremely broad", "was highly detailed", or "was exceptionally thorough". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "was very extensive" formal or informal?

The phrase "was very extensive" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal or scientific writing, more precise language might be preferred to enhance clarity and impact.