widen up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widen up" is not correct and is not commonly used in written English.
The correct expression would typically be "widen" without the addition of "up." Example: "We need to widen the road to accommodate more traffic."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Then there is this thud and you could see everyone's face just widen up".

The New York Times

It's great if you can get kids to eat them early on, as it will widen up their taste buds to other strong-flavoured ingredients.

Independent

"Then our eyes started to widen up a little bit at the prospect of what might be coming in the future," he continued.

The New York Times - Science

Although conduits are predicted to widen up to four-fold, they are too small to explain the height of the observed disruptions.

Nature

Your chest will widen up and out to the sides.

Huffington Post

Put on a thin pair of socks, then a thicker woolen one above it, then put on the shoes, causing them to widen up a bit.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Moreover the frequency bandwidth was widened up to 200% compared to the one obtained from a single cantilever beam.

Optical Materials

As a result, the acceptance angle can be widened up to 250 mrad in horizontal and 63 mrad in vertical.

Infrared Physics & Technology

Nine miles of beaches along Cancún and the Riviera Maya have been widened up to 600 feet.

The New York Times - Travel

We spent the night near the park boundary, swatting black flies and mosquitoes that had penetrated our tent, before entering the Splits, a plain where the river, widening up to two miles, meanders through scores of channels.

The New York Times - Travel

The study focuses on widening up the therapeutic perspective of anti-cancer therapy by entrapping a hydrophilic anticancer drug, topotecan hydrochloride (TOPO) in biodegradable poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) matrix to form topotecan nanoparticles (TOPO NPs) by a double emulsion solvent evaporation technique.

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and precision, favor the single-word verb "widen" over the two-word phrase "widen up". This streamlines your writing and aligns with standard English usage.

Common error

Avoid adding "up" to "widen" as it often introduces unnecessary wordiness and reduces the clarity of your sentence. Sticking to the single-word verb will ensure conciseness and improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widen up" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action to increase the width or scope of something. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not considered correct in standard English, with a preference for the single-word verb "widen".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "widen up" is occasionally used, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests opting for the single-word verb "widen" for improved clarity and conciseness. Its communicative purpose centers around describing the action of making something broader, appearing most frequently in News & Media sources. For more formal or professional writing, sticking to "widen" is the best practice. Be aware of more suitable alternatives like "broaden", "expand" or "increase" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand

Implies an increase in size or extent, slightly more formal than "widen up".

broaden

Focuses on expanding the scope or range of something, differing from the more general "widen up".

enlarge

Suggests making something bigger, similar to "widen up" but often used for physical objects.

increase

Highlights a growth in quantity or degree, less specific to physical dimensions compared to "widen up".

extend

Emphasizes lengthening or stretching something, differing from the area-focused "widen up".

spread out

Indicates distributing something over a larger area, conveying a sense of dispersion unlike "widen up".

open up

Suggests making something more accessible or available, which is a metaphorical extension of "widen up".

amplify

Implies increasing the intensity or effect of something, differing from the dimensional focus of "widen up".

develop

Focuses on growing or evolving something, a more abstract sense of expansion than "widen up".

swell

Indicates an increase in size due to internal pressure, conveying a different mechanism than "widen up".

FAQs

Is "widen up" grammatically correct?

While "widen up" appears in some contexts, standard English prefers the single-word verb "widen". Using "widen" ensures grammatical correctness and conciseness.

What does it mean to "widen" something?

To "widen" something means to increase its width or to expand its scope, influence, or understanding. Depending on the context, alternatives like "broaden", "expand", or "increase" may be more appropriate.

When is it appropriate to use "widen"?

Use "widen" when you want to describe the act of making something broader or more extensive. For example, "We need to widen the road" or "The company is looking to widen its market share".

Are there alternatives to using "widen" that provide a similar meaning?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "extend", "enlarge", or "open up". These options offer nuances that may better suit your intended meaning.