widen throughout

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen throughout" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward in certain contexts.
It could be used when describing something that is expanding or increasing in scope or range over a particular area or period. Example: "The impact of the new policy is expected to widen throughout the community, benefiting more residents over time."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The gap continued to widen throughout the 1980's; the military received raises that were generally smaller than those in the private sector.

The New York Times

Still, both those forecasts are upgrades from July, following a debt crisis that began in Greece and had threatened to widen throughout Europe.

Huffington Post

The gap continues to widen throughout elementary and secondary school, as rich kids have more enrichment opportunities than poor kids, until students take the SAT, an instrument that legitimizes these opportunity disparities as performance disparities, though it's itself a biased instrument.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Moreover, this gap widens throughout the school years.

Independent

At the beginning of the 21st century, the gap between high- and low-income earners was widening throughout the province.

Encyclopedia Britannica

KABUL, Afghanistan — As a huge manhunt for two missing American servicemen widened throughout a dangerous region of eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, a Taliban spokesman said that one had been killed in an ambush and the other captured.

The New York Times

Furthermore, in Mexico the gap between labor and capital compensations widens throughout the period considered.

Journal of Economic Structures

The Bollinger Bands, which are one standard deviation in either direction, have widened throughout October.

Forbes

It was widened throughout the 1980s and completed as a freeway in 1991.

Wikipedia

It is hypothesised that socioeconomic inequalities in adult obesity have widened throughout the study period in Scotland.

BMJ Open

Also, except for intestinal metaplasia-dysplasia and normal-minor change differences (which diminished artifactually towards the end), the gaps kept widening throughout the entire follow-up period.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widen throughout", ensure the context clearly indicates that something is expanding or increasing in scope, range, or effect over a specific area or period. For example, "The impact of the new policy is expected to widen throughout the community, benefiting more residents over time."

Common error

Avoid using "widen throughout" excessively in formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound awkward. Opt for more common and precise alternatives like "expand across" or "broaden throughout" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen throughout" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of expansion or increase occurring across a specific duration or area. Ludwig AI acknowledges that this usage, while grammatically correct, may sound awkward and advises considering alternative expressions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widen throughout" is a grammatically acceptable phrase used to describe the process of something expanding or increasing across a period or area. However, Ludwig AI suggests that it may sound somewhat awkward and encourages considering more common alternatives like "expand across" or "extend throughout" for clarity. While it appears across various contexts, including news and scientific domains, its frequency is relatively low, indicating that other options are generally preferred. The phrase's function is primarily descriptive, conveying the ongoing expansion of something over a defined scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand across

Focuses on spatial expansion rather than temporal duration.

extend throughout

Emphasizes reach or duration, but less on increasing breadth.

spread across

Implies distribution over an area rather than a gradual increase.

increase across

Highlights growth in magnitude over an area.

grow throughout

Suggests gradual development over time.

broaden across

Emphasizes diversification over an area.

permeate throughout

Implies a more thorough and pervasive spread.

stretch throughout

Focuses on the length or duration of the expansion.

become more widespread throughout

Expresses a more general increase in prevalence.

develop throughout

Highlights progressive advancement over time or area.

FAQs

How can I use "widen throughout" in a sentence?

You can use "widen throughout" to describe something that is expanding or increasing across a particular area or period. For example, "The gap continued to widen throughout the 1980s."

What can I say instead of "widen throughout"?

Alternatives to "widen throughout" include "expand across", "extend throughout", or "spread across", depending on the specific context.

Is "widen throughout" grammatically correct?

Yes, "widen throughout" is grammatically correct, but it may sound somewhat awkward in certain contexts. It's often better to use more common alternatives for clarity and style.

When is it appropriate to use "widen throughout"?

"Widen throughout" is appropriate when you want to emphasize that something is gradually increasing in scope or intensity over a period or area. However, consider whether a more common phrase like "expand across" might be more suitable.