is "in the area" smaller than in past times?

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Area_of_effect

Several skills affect allies/foes that are "in the area". The image in the wiki appears much larger than my own experiences of skills that seem to only work when the ally/foe is much closer.

Has anyone had the experience where a ally/foe was not affected by a skill when they were well within range of "in the area"? Are the images on the wiki still accurate, or has the range of some skills been reduced (but not updated in the description to say "adjacent"?

In short, that has not changed. Give examples please, of which skills you are using and what enemies you are facing. There are many effects in the game that can suppress other effects, we can't really know what issue you are experiencing.