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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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widespread used

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY


The phrase "widespread used" is not grammatically correct. It should be written as "widely used." You can use the phrase "widely used" when referring to an item or concept that is in frequent use. For example, "The internet is a widely used technology."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Nanomaterials (NMs) have been widespread used in biomedical fields, daily consuming, and even food industry.

First, the underlying ontology should be developed and modeled using more widespread used tools to facilitate greater understanding, adoption, and acceptance by the community.

The Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ) is a validated and widespread used tool to assess the association among negative automatic thoughts, emotions, and sexual response during sexual activity in men and women.

The Silverhawk system, currently the most widespread used device, is a directional atherectomy device particularly designed for eccentric and not severely calcified infrainguinal lesions whereas a variation of this device, the Rockhawk, is dedicated for the treatment of calcified plaques.

Aromatic polyimides possess high thermal stability, flexibility, good chemical resistance, mechanical strength, enhanced dielectric properties, being thus widespread used in electronic and microelectronic industry or as a support in high temperature applications.

Map matching is widespread used in navigation systems for vehicles and pedestrians.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Dr. Coleman was critical of its widespread use, although many doctors find it useful.

Conservation measures were in widespread use.

News & Media

The New York Times

Both make widespread use of Arabic.

News & Media

The Economist

Indeed it has entered widespread use.

News & Media

The Guardian

Panelists cautioned against more widespread use.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something that is in common use, prefer the grammatically correct form "widely used" over the incorrect "widespread used".

Common error

Avoid using the adjective "widespread" to directly modify the past participle "used". Instead, use the adverb "widely" to correctly modify the verb, ensuring grammatical accuracy.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

3.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widespread used" functions as a descriptive term aiming to characterize something as being in common or extensive use. While the intent is clear, it's grammatically flawed, as highlighted by Ludwig, where the proper form is "widely used".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "widespread used" is frequently encountered, it's grammatically incorrect; the proper form is "widely used". Ludwig analysis shows that this term aims to describe something as being in common use. Despite its prevalence across various sources, ranging from scientific articles to news reports, the grammatical inaccuracy impacts its appropriateness in formal contexts. When writing, it's best to favor "widely used" or consider alternative phrases like "commonly used" or "extensively used" for enhanced clarity and correctness. Ludwig's AI underscores the importance of grammatical precision, even in commonly used phrases.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something is commonly used?

The correct phrase is "widely used". "Widespread used" is grammatically incorrect, even though it may be encountered.

Is "widespread used" grammatically correct?

No, "widespread used" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "widely used", where "widely" is an adverb modifying the verb "used".

What are some alternatives to "widely used"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "commonly used", "extensively used", or "generally applied".

What's the difference between "widespread use" and "widely used"?

"Widespread use" refers to the extent or prevalence of something being used (use as a noun), whereas "widely used" describes something that is used by many people or in many places (used as a verb).

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: