widespread influence

USAGE SUMMARY

"widespread influence" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It is often used to describe something that has had an effect on a large area or a large number of people. For example: "The author's book had a widespread influence, and was read by millions of people around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It goes without saying that mathematics has exerted widespread influence on 20th-century art.

The New York Times

Seventy-five yeafterfter H. P. Lovecraft's death, Matthew Baldwin reflects on the author's widespread influence.

The New Yorker

His clinical research on family systems had widespread influence in this country and abroad.

The New York Times

Despite his Republican affiliation, Mr. Greenspan also enjoys widespread influence among Democrats.

The New York Times

The reason, experts say, is the widespread influence of managed care.

The New York Times

This movement, primarily associated with Italy, continues to have widespread influence around the globe.

Cornell University

Widespread Influence of 3'-End Structures on Mammalian mRNA Processing and Stability.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bartel, D.P. & Chen, C.-Z. C.-Z.Micromanagersene expressiof: the potentially widespread influence of metazoan microRNAs.

Nature

Bartel, D.P. & Chen, C.Z. Micromanagers of gene expression: the potentially widespread influence of metazoan microRNAs.

Nature

Mr. Reagan has had a deep and widespread influence on the Federal courts.

The New York Times

Others as esteemed as Ebert have not had the same direct and widespread influence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widespread influence", ensure the context clearly indicates the scope and area affected. For example, specify whether the influence is cultural, political, or economic to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "widespread influence" without providing specific examples or data to support the claim. Overstating influence can weaken your argument and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widespread influence" functions as a noun phrase typically used as an object or complement in a sentence. It describes the extent to which something affects a large number of people or things. Ludwig shows it is used to describe diverse effects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

18%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Science

17%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widespread influence" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a broad and extensive impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard expression suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and encyclopedic content. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly supports the claim of broad influence. The related phrases like "broad impact" or "extensive reach" offer similar meanings, providing writers with options to vary their language while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broad impact

Focuses on the extent of the effect, similar to widespread, but uses 'impact' instead of 'influence'.

extensive reach

Highlights the range that the influence covers, replacing 'influence' with 'reach'.

pervasive effect

Emphasizes how deeply something affects a system, substituting 'widespread' with 'pervasive'.

far-reaching consequence

Stresses the outcomes that extend over a large area or time, changes both words to 'consequence' and 'far-reaching'.

significant effect

Highlights the importance and scale of the effect, but it's less specific about the breadth.

major impact

Emphasizes the scale of the effect, replacing 'widespread' with 'major' and 'influence' with 'impact'.

considerable sway

Focuses on the power to affect decisions or actions, swapping both words for 'considerable sway'.

substantial effect

Highlights the size of the effect, modifying 'widespread' to 'substantial'.

extensive impact

Focuses on the breadth of the effect, altering 'widespread' to 'extensive' and 'influence' to 'impact'.

broad effect

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the general breadth of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "widespread influence" in a sentence?

You can use "widespread influence" to describe the broad impact of an idea, person, or event. For example, "The internet has had a "widespread influence" on communication methods".

What are some alternatives to "widespread influence"?

Alternatives include phrases like "broad impact", "extensive reach", or "pervasive effect". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "widespread influence" or "significant influence"?

"Widespread influence" emphasizes the breadth of the impact, while "significant influence" highlights its importance. Use "widespread" when the geographical or demographic reach is key, and "significant" when the intensity or importance of the effect is more relevant.

Can "widespread influence" be negative?

Yes, "widespread influence" can be used to describe negative impacts. For example, "Misinformation can have a "widespread influence" on public opinion and decision-making".