widespread issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"widespread issue" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a problem or concern that is prevalent or affecting a large group of people. Example: Poverty is a widespread issue in developing countries, affecting millions of people and hindering economic growth.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Ms. Goyer also called caregiving a "widespread issue people can connect with on a personal level.

The New York Times

"My people let me know that it was a widespread issue," he said.

The New York Times

It can make a traveler feel as if there's nothing that can be done about such an entrenched, and widespread, issue.

The New York Times - Travel

"Given that well over 90 percent of financial advisers who participated in the program are still with us, repayment problems haven't been a widespread issue".

The New York Times

We knew that it would place the terrible, widespread issue of family violence front and centre of community concern and on the government's agenda.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I doubted those claims, the evidence pointed contrary to those claims and the evidence that has been presented today vindicates the fact it is a widespread issue.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The Howard League legal team encounters widespread issues affecting many of the children and young adults in custody.

The Guardian

Lydon has recently voiced his views on numerous and widespread issues, including euthanasia (an 'highly popular' option of he were to be struck down with dementia), Russell Brand (he'll make you homeless, apparently) and the importance of voting.

Independent

"It said there were "widespread issues with clarity, fairness and objectivity" with 85 per cent of schools failing to publish their admissions criteria in time for appeals into the refusal of a school place.

Independent

The company had earlier said that the signal problems were only affecting calls made from mobile phones to landlines – calling it a "severe outage" - though some EE customers on Twitter were reporting more widespread issues regarding complete signal loss.

The Guardian - Business

The main point is that it has penetrated the public psyche and raised one of the most widespread issues of any case since the war, namely social, economic and legal injustice which all contribute to racism.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widespread issue", be specific about the scope and affected parties to provide context and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "widespread issue" without providing specific context. Overgeneralizing can weaken your argument and make it harder for the reader to understand the problem's true impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widespread issue" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It serves to identify a problem or concern that is not isolated but affects a significant portion of a population or area. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widespread issue" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a problem affecting a large number of people or places. Ludwig's analysis, drawing from a range of sources, confirms its frequent use in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When employing this phrase, specificity is key; avoid overgeneralization by providing context and concrete examples. While alternatives like "common problem" or "prevalent concern" exist, "widespread issue" effectively emphasizes the extensive scope of the challenge. According to Ludwig, the phrase is a neutral term appropriate for a wide variety of registers, which makes it helpful in both general and technical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common problem

Focuses on the frequency of the problem, deemphasizing the scope.

prevalent concern

Emphasizes the widespread nature of the worry or anxiety.

rampant difficulty

Highlights the uncontrolled spread of the difficulty.

general problem

Indicates a problem affecting a wide group or area.

extensive concern

Emphasizes the breadth of the worry.

ubiquitous challenge

Highlights that the challenge is present everywhere.

pervasive difficulty

Emphasizes the insidious spread and impact of the difficulty.

broad problem

Highlights the problem's wide scope.

universal challenge

Focuses on the challenge being applicable to everyone.

commonplace difficulty

Focuses on the ordinariness and frequency of the difficulty.

FAQs

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

You can use "widespread issue" to describe a problem that affects many people or places, such as, "Climate change is a "widespread issue" affecting communities around the world".

What are some alternatives to "widespread issue"?

Alternatives include "common problem", "prevalent concern", or "general problem", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "widespread issue" or "common issue"?

Both "widespread issue" and "common issue" are correct, but "widespread issue" emphasizes the extent of the problem, while "common issue" emphasizes its frequency. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

What kind of problems are typically described as a "widespread issue"?

Problems described as a "widespread issue" often include social problems, environmental problems, and technological problems. For example, "The lack of affordable housing is a "widespread issue" in many urban areas".