What's the difference between wide and broad ?

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Richard Wilson 2018.07.15 11:12

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ES

It might be useful to explain why they are used interchangeably. Many things, possibly most things, can satisfy the conditions for both wide and broad. A river for example can be wide or broad. From bank to bank it is wide, but the body of the river is broad. Therefore it satisfies both wide and broad. A room, a boat or an aeroplane is the same, the floor is broad, the walls (or sides) are wide. So they end up being used interchangeably. But sometimes you would sound weird if you used them interchangeably. Shoulders for example, would always be broad, never wide. You wouldn’t say “he has wide shoulders”, you’d say he has “broad shoulders”. Hopefully this helps.
Richard Wilson 2018.07.15 11:01

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Yeah, there is a difference but I’d say that unless you need to know the technical difference just use them interchangeably because that’s how they’ll be used to you.
ダンラップ・マイケル 2018.07.15 10:57

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JP

This is a good comparison. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-broad-and-vs-wide/
Anson 2018.07.15 10:57

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In reality - an average person would tell you they mean the same thing.
Anson 2018.07.15 10:57

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Ahh. This is a good question. These words are often used the same way, BUT they technically are a little different. Wide: measures the distance of space between two points. The canyon is very wide. (The space between the two cliffs is measured) Broad: measures the distance of an object. Thor has broad shoulders. (The measurement of his shoulders is the object).

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