widening a bit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widening a bit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slight increase in width or scope, often in a physical or metaphorical context. Example: "The road is widening a bit as we approach the intersection, allowing for more traffic to flow smoothly."

✓ Grammatically correct

TechCrunch

The New York Times

Independent

The Economist

Forbes

Huffington Post

WikiHow

The New Yorker

Science Magazine

The Guardian - Sport

Insights into Imaging

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It essentially changes the soundstage to bring things like vocals and horns more up front; when you've been listening to the BitHead with the crossfeed engaged and then turn it off, you'll get the impression of the "room" flattening out and widening a bit.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

So next year the circle widened a bit.

The New York Times

"This is our opportunity now, as the field widens a bit".

The New York Times

In 1998 his tight circle of fans widened a bit when Abrams published a book of his work and there was a simultaneous show of his gold pieces at the Renwick Gallery, part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The New York Times - Arts

There is also an external imbalance, with the current account deficit at 2.6 per cent of GDP and expected to widen a bit more as the strong dollar will tend to cut exports and increase imports.

Independent

Mr. Obama has led in 21 consecutive polls of Pennsylvania and his margins seem to have widened a bit recently; the forecast model now gives him an 89 percent chance of winning it on Nov. 6.

The New York Times

In the past few weeks, equity and bond markets have sold off, emerging markets ditto, high yield bonds' spreads over Treasuries have widened a bit and equity volatility has finally stirred from its lengthy snooze.

The Economist

The funnel for grain from the centre-west widened a bit earlier this year when Brasil Ferrovias, an ailing railway company, had its finances reconditioned, clearing the way for the expansion of Ferronorte, a line running from Mato Grosso to the port of Santos in São Paulo state.

The Economist

By January the gap will widen a bit: 50 for Microsoft, 32 for Sony.

Forbes

And it appears that those eyes are about to widen a bit.

TechCrunch

Spreads have widened a bit in the Asian crisis, but the high-yield market has not factored in a possible slowdown in corporate earnings.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes, ensure that "widening a bit" is followed by context clarifying what is widening. For instance, "The path is widening a bit, making it easier for hikers."

Common error

Avoid pairing "widening a bit" with other vague intensifiers such as "slightly" or "somewhat", as this can make the sentence redundant and less impactful. Choose one clear modifier instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widening a bit" functions as a descriptive element, often part of a verb phrase, modifying an action with a sense of moderate change. This phrase is commonly found across various contexts as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

TechCrunch

12%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widening a bit" is a versatile phrase used to describe a slight increase in width, scope, or range. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It's primarily found in news and media, and offers a nuanced way to express moderate changes. When writing, remember to provide context after using this phrase to clarify what exactly is widening. Alternatives like "expanding slightly" or "broadening somewhat" can be used for variety, but "widening a bit" is a clear and effective choice in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding slightly

Changes the verb to 'expanding' and uses 'slightly' for a similar degree of change.

broadening somewhat

Replaces 'widening' with 'broadening' and 'a bit' with 'somewhat', indicating a similar subtle increase.

increasing marginally

Uses 'increasing' as a substitute for 'widening' and 'marginally' to convey a small degree of change.

growing incrementally

Employs 'growing' instead of 'widening' and 'incrementally' to suggest a gradual increase.

extending gradually

Substitutes 'widening' with 'extending' and 'a bit' with 'gradually' to indicate a slow expansion.

opening up slightly

Replaces 'widening' with 'opening up' to suggest an increase in scope or opportunity, modified by 'slightly'.

spreading out a little

Uses 'spreading out' in place of 'widening' and 'a little' instead of 'a bit', keeping the meaning close.

enlarging slightly

Changes 'widening' to 'enlarging', both suggesting an increase in size, with 'slightly' specifying the degree.

amplifying marginally

Replaces 'widening' with 'amplifying' to denote an increase in effect or scope, using 'marginally' to indicate a small extent.

inflating gently

Substitutes 'widening' with 'inflating' suggesting expansion and 'gently' indicating slow or subtle process.

FAQs

How can I use "widening a bit" in a sentence?

Use "widening a bit" to describe a slight increase in width or scope. For example, "The gap between the teams is "widening a bit" as the game progresses."

What are some alternatives to saying "widening a bit"?

Alternatives include "expanding slightly", "broadening somewhat", or "increasing marginally" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "widening a little bit" instead of "widening a bit"?

While "widening a little bit" is grammatically correct, it can sound redundant. "Widening a bit" is usually sufficient and more concise.

How does "widening a bit" differ from "widening significantly"?

"Widening a bit" indicates a small change, while "widening significantly" suggests a much larger and more noticeable change in width or scope.