widening interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widening interest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an increasing level of curiosity or engagement in a particular subject or area. Example: "The widening interest in renewable energy sources has led to significant advancements in technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Some point to widening interest rate spreads between Germany and Greece as a sign of growing alarm, but you need a magnifying glass to find the evidence.

The New York Times

The powerful art adviser Allan Schwartzman, who has taken a keen interest in Tansaekhwa, said, "I've never seen this amount of widening interest in a particular circle of non-contemporary artists, in historical material before".

The New Yorker

Although there are clear uses of biological models and concepts in social-systems work, it may be fair to say that the greatest single impetus to development of this area was widening interest after World War II in cybernetics the study of human control functions and of the electrical and mechanical systems that could be devised to replace or reinforce them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Recent years have seen a widening interest in research on aspects of well-being [ 1- 4].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Partly as a response to this widening interest, we decided to accumulate 'minor' one-volume novels - from a period when the mainstream was dominated by two and three deckers and novels published in weekly or monthly parts.

Stanford University

The widening interest in Facebook by the federal agencies is the latest fallout from revelations in March, when The New York Times and others reported that the world's largest social network had mishandled the data of millions of its users.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

However, the presence of eight well-supported 'reserve' teams may widen interest and could be a way of filling the gap in funding created by those eight fewer games.

BBC

Along the way, Mr. Kuzmin has generated his own small flock of guardian angels, including the city's Mayor and local state industrialists, who have rewarded his energy by sanctioning his widening interests.

The New York Times

In Detroit, her father began working in the warehouse business, one of his brother-in-law Barry Hankerson's widening interests.

Wikipedia

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Board's string of interest cuts has driven down rates, which ultimately widens net interest spreads and drives up net interest margins, Napoli says.

Forbes

This would widen public interest and would increase the credibility of the process.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing trends or developments, use "widening interest" to highlight a growing curiosity or engagement in a particular area. For instance, "The widening interest in sustainable living has led to innovative eco-friendly products."

Common error

Avoid using "widening interest" when you actually mean "self-interest". "Widening interest" refers to an increase in curiosity or engagement among a group, while "self-interest" refers to actions motivated by personal gain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widening interest" functions as a noun phrase, where "widening" acts as a present participle adjective modifying the noun "interest". As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to describe the act of something becoming of greater interest to more people.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widening interest" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that effectively describes an increasing level of curiosity or engagement. As Ludwig AI confirms, its frequency is uncommon, appearing mostly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, remember to avoid confusing it with "self-interest" and consider alternatives like "growing interest" or "increasing interest" for subtle variations in meaning. The phrase serves to highlight trends and developments, making it suitable for formal and neutral communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing interest

Replaces "widening" with "growing" maintaining the sense of an increase in interest.

increasing interest

Substitutes "widening" with "increasing" to denote a gradual rise in interest.

expanding interest

Uses "expanding" instead of "widening" to suggest an enlargement of interest.

heightening interest

Employs "heightening" to convey an intensification of interest.

intensifying interest

Replaces "widening" with "intensifying", indicating a stronger and more concentrated interest.

deepening interest

Substitutes "widening" with "deepening" to suggest a more profound level of interest.

sharpening interest

Uses "sharpening" instead of "widening" to denote a more focused and acute interest.

broadening appeal

Shifts the focus from interest to appeal, suggesting a wider range of people are attracted.

rising popularity

Changes the focus to popularity, implying that something is becoming more well-liked.

uptick in engagement

Replaces "interest" with "engagement" and uses "uptick" to describe the increase.

FAQs

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

You can use "widening interest" to describe an increase in attention or curiosity towards a particular subject. For example, "There is a widening interest in electric vehicles due to environmental concerns."

What's a good alternative to "widening interest"?

Alternatives include "growing interest", "increasing interest", or "expanding interest", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "widening interest" the same as "self-interest"?

No, "widening interest" refers to a growing curiosity or engagement among a group, while "self-interest" refers to actions motivated by personal gain. They have completely different meanings.

In what contexts is "widening interest" commonly used?

"Widening interest" is frequently used in contexts related to social trends, scientific advancements, and economic developments, often appearing in news articles, academic papers, and business reports.