Meaning & use
beyond the scope
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Not included in what a plan, rule, discussion, or job is meant to cover.
Grammar: Used after be or a verb like go, fall, or lie, and usually followed by of: beyond the scope of this report.
Patterns
- be beyond the scope of something
- go beyond the scope of something
- fall outside the scope of something
Detailed cost estimates are beyond the scope of this short article.
That question goes beyond the scope of what we agreed to discuss today.
Checking every old file is beyond the scope of the review.
phrasefixed phrase
More than a person or group has the ability, power, or authority to deal with.
Grammar: Often used after be with a person or organization: it is beyond the scope of the committee.
Patterns
- be beyond the scope of someone
- be beyond the scope of an organization
Deciding visa rules is beyond the scope of a local council.
Helping with legal claims is beyond the scope of our small team.
Common combinations
- beyond the scope of
- Those figures are beyond the scope of the study.
- go beyond the scope of
- Your answer goes beyond the scope of the question.
- fall beyond the scope of
- Such cases fall beyond the scope of this law.
- clearly beyond the scope
- The topic is clearly beyond the scope of a one-hour class.
- well beyond the scope of
- That demand is well beyond the scope of our contract.
Synonyms and how they differ
- outside the remit of
- More formal and common in British business writing about official duties.
- out of bounds
- Informal and usually about places or behavior, not about what a document covers.
- not covered by
- A plain verb phrase that fits when you talk about rules or insurance rather than abstract range.
Opposites
Word family
- scope noun
- The range of things a subject, rule, or activity deals with.
Commonly confused: beyond the scope or beyond the pale?
beyond the scope vs beyond the pale
This means unacceptable or shocking, not simply outside a topic's range.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'beyond the scope' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Beyond the scope of' needs a noun such as 'this chapter' to show what is not covered. The other options use it as if it meant a price, a distance, or an ability, which it does not.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “beyond the scope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.