widen the pool

USAGE SUMMARY

"widen the pool" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to making a larger selection of things available. For example, "We need to widen the pool of potential applicants if we are to find the best candidate for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

They should be considered temporary measures that address institutionalised discrimination and widen the pool of talent.

The Guardian

Proponents say the law would help widen the pool of prospective jurors and help integrate immigrants into their community.

The New York Times

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd's stated ambition is to widen the pool of people who give to charity.

The Guardian

"Young people are weighing up their options more carefully, while companies are looking to widen the pool of talent they recruit from".

Independent

There is no provision in the Fifa statutes to delay the presidential election, nor to widen the pool of candidates, with only Blatter and Prince Ali standing.

Independent

RBS could have waited until expiry to widen the pool of potential buyers beyond Heineken, which, with Carlsberg, bought S&N in 2008.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

But they see the value in widening the pool from which they draw their reporters.

The Guardian

On rare occasion, the Academy widens the pool to include foreign fare in its main races – Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin both memorably benefited from such instances.

The Guardian - Film

Hedge funds, private-equity firms and others piggybacked on the reforms in the hope of widening the pool of investors they can pitch to.

The Economist

"I wouldn't view it as positive discrimination … I view it as widening the pool of talent from which medicine recruits".

The Guardian

Now, for precisely the reasons that made Han interesting enough to profile in the magazine in July, he has widened the pool of his opponents to include some of those who once admired him: China's most ardent democrats.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "widen the pool" when you want to express the idea of making something more inclusive or increasing the number of options available. For example, in recruiting, you might say, "We need to widen the pool of candidates."

Common error

Avoid using "widen the pool" when you simply need to deepen an existing skill set. The phrase implies adding more people or items, not improving what's already there.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen the pool" functions as a verb phrase typically used to describe the action of increasing the size or scope of a group, selection, or set of resources. According to Ludwig, it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "widen the pool" is a versatile expression used to describe the act of expanding a selection or making something more inclusive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in a range of contexts, including news, science, and business. It's useful for describing efforts to diversify a group or increase available options. While generally neutral, it’s important to ensure the phrase aligns with your intent, focusing on inclusion rather than just deepening existing skills. Common alternatives include "expand the range" and "broaden the scope". Its usage is common and appears frequently in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand the range

Focuses on increasing the extent or scope, rather than the collection.

broaden the scope

Similar to expanding, but emphasizes the breadth of coverage.

increase the selection

Highlights making more choices available from a group.

augment the collection

More formal, suggesting adding to an existing set.

enlarge the assortment

Emphasizes variety within the increased quantity.

diversify the sources

Implies adding different types of origins to a collection.

extend the network

Specifically focuses on increasing connections or relationships.

grow the base

Suggests increasing the number of supporters or customers.

amplify the options

Highlights making more choices or possibilities available.

supplement the resources

Focuses on adding additional materials or support.

FAQs

What does it mean to "widen the pool"?

To "widen the pool" means to increase the number or range of available options, candidates, or resources for a particular purpose. It's about making something more inclusive or diverse.

How can I use "widen the pool" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company is trying to "diversify the workforce" by widening the pool of applicants from different backgrounds".

What's the difference between "widen the pool" and "increase the selection"?

"Widen the pool" generally refers to making a larger group available, while "increase the selection" emphasizes the number of choices within that group. They are very similar but "widen the pool" has an implication of inclusivity.

What can I say instead of "widen the pool"?

You can use alternatives like "expand the range", "broaden the scope", or "diversify the sources", depending on the context.