widespread number of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widespread number of" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
The term "widespread" typically describes something that is prevalent or common, while "number" refers to a quantity, making the combination awkward and redundant. Example: "The widespread number of complaints about the service indicates a serious issue."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The headline of the Chomp Update is that there is a big change happening that affects a widespread number of search results.

TechCrunch

The widespread number of A. baumannii strains resistant to antibiotics led us to explore whether the increased expression of IL-8 by infected cells is a general theme for A. baumannii.

Plosone

Seven human sirtuins have been identified acting on a widespread number of substrates.

Cell Death and Disease

Attending to the spatial targets increased activity in a widespread number of brain regions, as compared with attending to the frequency-modulated targets in the same stimulus.

European Journal of Neuroscience

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As its charges became more widespread, the number of visitors dwindled.

The New York Times

While demonstrations have been widespread, the number of participants has generally not been large.

The Economist

As the acquisition and use of 3D data become more widespread, a number of methods have been proposed for estimating principal curvatures on a surface.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

But after the problem received widespread publicity, the number of reported fatalities rose to 148.

The New York Times

The location, widespread nature, and number of fires suggest that these fires were deliberately set to manage land.

The Guardian

The location, widespread nature, and number of fires suggest that they were deliberately set to manage land.

The Guardian

Most of the fires burn in grass or cropland and the location, widespread nature and number of fires suggest that they were deliberately set to manage land.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "widespread number of". Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives like "large number of" or "significant number of" to improve clarity.

Common error

The word "widespread" describes distribution or prevalence, not quantity. Avoid combining it directly with "number of". Instead of saying "widespread number of issues", specify "a large number of common issues" or "issues that are widespread".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widespread number of" functions as a modifier, attempting to describe the quantity of something in terms of its distribution. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this combination is not considered grammatically correct. More accurate alternatives should be used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "widespread number of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and awkward. While Ludwig examples show its occasional use in news and scientific contexts, it is not recommended for formal writing. According to Ludwig AI analysis, more precise and grammatically sound alternatives, such as "large number of" or "significant number of", should be preferred. The core issue lies in the combination of "widespread", which describes distribution, and "number", which denotes quantity. Ensure clarity and grammatical correctness by opting for alternatives that accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

large number of

Replaces "widespread" with "large", focusing on the quantity rather than the distribution.

significant number of

Substitutes "widespread" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the quantity.

considerable number of

Emphasizes the size of the quantity, using "considerable" instead of "widespread".

great number of

Replaces "widespread" with "great", highlighting the abundance.

substantial number of

Focuses on the amount, using "substantial" to convey a sizable quantity.

growing number of

Indicates an increase in quantity, substituting "widespread" with "growing".

increasing number of

Highlights the rising quantity, replacing "widespread" with "increasing".

common occurrence of

Shifts the focus from quantity to frequency, using "common occurrence" to indicate prevalence.

prevalence of

Replaces the entire phrase with a noun form emphasizing how commonly something exists.

wide distribution of

Focuses on the spatial spread rather than the quantity, using "wide distribution".

FAQs

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

Use "widespread" to describe the extent or prevalence of something, not its quantity. For example, say "the problem is widespread" instead of "a widespread number of problems".

What phrases can I use instead of "widespread number of"?

Better alternatives include "large number of", "significant number of", or "considerable number of", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "widespread amount of"?

No, "widespread amount of" is not grammatically sound. Use "widespread" to describe distribution and "amount" for uncountable nouns. A better phrasing might be "a significant amount of", or "widespread use of" something, depending on context.

What's the difference between "widespread" and "common"?

"Widespread" indicates something is distributed over a large area or among many people, while "common" simply means something occurs frequently or is typical. While related, "widespread" emphasizes distribution more strongly than "common" does.