Meaning & use
depth and breadth
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Meaning
nounfixed phrase
The full extent of something, including both how detailed and how wide-ranging it is.
Grammar: Usually followed by of: the depth and breadth of her knowledge.
Patterns
- the depth and breadth of something
Reviewers praised the depth and breadth of the museum's collection.
Few people grasp the depth and breadth of the problem.
The course covers the depth and breadth of modern economics.
Common combinations
- depth and breadth of knowledge
- His depth and breadth of knowledge impressed the interviewers.
- depth and breadth of experience
- The role needs depth and breadth of experience.
- appreciate the depth and breadth
- Visitors slowly appreciate the depth and breadth of the exhibit.
- the sheer depth and breadth
- The sheer depth and breadth of the report surprised everyone.
- lack depth and breadth
- The proposal lacks depth and breadth.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scope
- Refers mainly to how much is covered, without the idea of detail that depth adds.
- range
- Stresses variety rather than thoroughness.
- extent
- More general and can refer to size or degree of anything.
- comprehensiveness
- A single formal noun for thorough and wide coverage.
Word family
Commonly confused: depth and breadth or breath?
depth and breadth vs breath
Breath (/breθ/) is the air you inhale; breadth has a d and means width or range.
Practice
The survey was praised for the ___ of its questions on health habits.
Choose one answer.
Depth and breadth is the fixed phrase for thoroughness plus range. The others describe physical size and do not fit a survey's quality.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “depth and breadth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.