Meaning & use
large in scope
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
covering a very wide range of subjects, activities, or effects; not limited to a small area.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, seem, or become, or after a noun: the study is large in scope; a study large in scope.
Patterns
- something is large in scope
- a plan/project/study large in scope
The new health program is large in scope, covering every school in the city.
Their investigation was large in scope and took more than a year.
We need a solution that is large in scope enough to help all the affected families.
phrasefixed phrase
having many parts or covering a great physical area.
Grammar: Often used for physical things like maps, buildings, or damage: the map is large in scope.
Patterns
- something is large in scope
- a map/design large in scope
The map was large in scope, showing the whole country in detail.
The damage from the storm was large in scope, affecting several towns.
The architect presented a design large in scope, with gardens and water features.
Common combinations
- large in scope and ambition
- The festival was large in scope and ambition, with events across the city.
- large in scope but limited in budget
- The plan was large in scope but limited in budget, so it had to be cut.
- a project large in scope
- They started a project large in scope to clean up the river.
- large in scope and detail
- Her thesis was large in scope and detail, covering ten years of history.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wide-ranging
- Wide-ranging is more common before a noun (a wide-ranging review) and often suggests many different topics; large in scope more often follows a linking verb.
- broad
- Broad is simpler and can describe physical width or general ideas; large in scope is more formal and focuses on the range of coverage.
- extensive
- Extensive often suggests a lot of something (extensive damage, extensive research); large in scope emphasizes the boundaries of what is included.
- ambitious
- Ambitious focuses on the difficulty or daring of a plan; large in scope focuses on how much it covers.
Opposites
Word family
- scope noun
- The range of things that a subject, activity, or book deals with.
- broad in scope phrase
- A similar phrase meaning covering many areas, often used before a noun.
Commonly confused: large in scope or large-scale? large in scope or big?
large in scope vs large-scale
Large-scale means involving many people or things and is usually used before a noun (a large-scale study). Large in scope means covering a wide range and often follows a linking verb.
large in scope vs big
Big is informal and mainly about physical size or importance; large in scope is formal and about range of coverage.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'large in scope' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is used after a linking verb like 'was' to describe a study's wide coverage. Option 0 is wrong because the phrase cannot go before a noun directly; option 2 is wrong for the same reason; option 3 is wrong because 'large in scope' does not describe how someone speaks.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “large in scope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.