widespread trend

USAGE SUMMARY

"widespread trend" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a popular phenomenon that is happening or has happened in the past. For example: "It's not surprising that electric cars are becoming a more widespread trend in major cities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

In the advanced countries there has been a widespread trend toward reinforced concrete structures.

Britannica

I appreciate the Guardian highlighting what has become a disturbingly widespread trend.

The Guardian

Hardly surprising, then, that unions in Sweden buck the widespread trend of decline in membership and bargaining power that is happening across most western economies.

The Guardian - Money

Although he has been using nickel faucets for decades -- at first, he had to have them custom-made -- he acknowledged a widespread trend toward silver metals.

The New York Times

But this ignores another widespread trend: direct democracy at the local and regional level is booming, even as disillusion with representative government at the national level grows.

The Washington Post

I am not referring to isolated incidents, but to a widespread trend towards articles, websites and events that sexualise, objectify and dehumanise female students and women in general.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The spots, by BBDO New York, featured parody and elaborate special effects, both widespread trends.

The New York Times

Results indicate that over the past 40 80 years widespread trends of increasing rates of baseflow recession and decreasing annual low-flow conditions exist throughout the region.

Journal of Hydrology

Analyses of genome-wide collections of gene phylogenies (that is, phylomes) have been used to assess the support of alternative evolutionary scenarios [ 29, 30], providing a broad view of the phylogenetic signal contributed by each individual gene, while identifying widespread trends that underlie the species phylogeny.

BMC Biology

Dr. Lawrimore, Dr. Hansen and other experts said that trends are far more important than particular years, and the recent widespread warming trend has been clear — and very distinct from the regional hot spell that drove up United States temperatures in the 1930s.

The New York Times

Heat content change dominated by heat transport convergence Due to widespread sinking trend of midthermocline isopycnals over 50+ years Heat content change dominated by heat transport convergence Due to widespread sinking trend of midthermocline isopycnals over 50+ years Studies of ocean heat content (OHC) show warming of the global oceans over the last 60 years.

Geophysical Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "widespread trend", ensure that the evidence supports the claim that the trend is indeed widespread. Avoid using it for localized or niche phenomena.

Common error

Avoid using "widespread trend" when referring to a phenomenon that is only prevalent in a specific region or demographic. Use more specific language to accurately reflect the trend's scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widespread trend" functions as a noun phrase, where "widespread" modifies the noun "trend". It generally acts as a subject or object in a sentence, denoting a common or increasing phenomenon, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

45%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "widespread trend" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly prevalent. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct usage, highlighting its function as a noun phrase used to describe broad patterns. It is most frequently encountered in news, media, and scientific contexts, conveying a sense of growing occurrence. While seemingly straightforward, it's crucial to use "widespread trend" accurately, ensuring that the phenomenon genuinely exhibits a broad scope to avoid overstating its prevalence. Alternatives like "common phenomenon" or "prevailing tendency" can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific aspect you wish to emphasize.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common phenomenon

Replaces "trend" with "phenomenon", focusing on the observable occurrence rather than its direction.

prevailing tendency

Substitutes "widespread" with "prevailing" and "trend" with "tendency", emphasizing dominance and inclination.

growing pattern

Replaces "widespread" with "growing" and "trend" with "pattern", highlighting the increase and structure of the occurrence.

increasing prevalence

Changes "widespread trend" to "increasing prevalence", focusing on the rise in commonness.

general movement

Replaces "widespread" with "general" and "trend" with "movement", suggesting a broad directional shift.

dominant development

Substitutes "widespread" with "dominant" and "trend" with "development", stressing its powerful presence and unfolding.

extensive practice

Replaces "widespread trend" to "extensive practice", which indicates a common way of doing things.

rampant increase

Changes "widespread trend" to "rampant increase", emphasizing the rapid growth.

pervasive habit

Substitutes "widespread" with "pervasive" and "trend" with "habit", highlighting how ingrained the action is.

across-the-board upswing

Replaces "widespread" with "across-the-board" and "trend" with "upswing", indicating widespread and positive movement.

FAQs

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

You can use "widespread trend" to describe a phenomenon that is common or increasing across a broad area or population. For example: "The adoption of renewable energy is a "widespread trend" in many countries."

What can I say instead of "widespread trend"?

You can use alternatives like "common phenomenon", "prevailing tendency", or "growing pattern" depending on the specific context.

Is "widespread trend" the same as "popular trend"?

"Widespread trend" implies broad distribution, while "popular trend" suggests widespread liking or adoption. They are similar, but "widespread" focuses on reach, and "popular" on favor.

What's the difference between "widespread trend" and "isolated incident"?

"Widespread trend" refers to a common or increasing occurrence, while "isolated incident" refers to a rare or unique event. They are opposites in terms of frequency and scope.