Grammar fix
a sweeping change
wide-ranging change
a change that affects many parts of something or has a major impact, not just a small or limited adjustment
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- The company introduced a sweeping change to its remote work policy, allowing employees to work from anywhere in the world.society
- In my opinion, a sweeping change in public transport systems is necessary if cities want to reduce pollution and traffic congestion.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: a sweeping change (in/to something)
WrongThey made a sweeping change to the whole system.
RightThey made sweeping changes to the whole system.
Usually plural — 'sweeping changes/reforms'; the singular sounds odd for something that affects everything.
Patterna sweeping change (in/to something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Sweeping changes' = broad and far-reaching, in one word.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
sweeping changes/reformschangesreformspowersintroduce
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'a small change' or 'a minor change', 'a sweeping change' refers to something that is broad and far-reaching, not just significant in size but in how many things it affects.