a decisive role

USAGE SUMMARY

'a decisive role' is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a role that has a significant impact in a particular situation or process. For example, "The Prime Minister played a decisive role in achieving the peace treaty."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The army played a decisive role.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, that alliance plays a decisive role for social change.

The Guardian - Opinion

since 2000, played a decisive role in its rise.

The New Yorker

Hormones also play a decisive role in animal growth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Environmental factors may be playing a decisive role.

Independent

State governors, who appoint election officers, play a decisive role.

The Economist

In those cases, non-unique RTS play a decisive role.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Therefore, an efficient visualization pipeline often plays a decisive role.

Visualization in Engineering

As expected, demulsifier bulk concentration plays a decisive role.

Fuel Processing Technology

Mechanical testing holds a decisive role in structural components design.

Procedia Engineering

The parameter field of numerical reservoir simulation plays a decisive role in the simulation results.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decisive role", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is influencing or determining. Provide specific examples to illustrate the impact of the role.

Common error

Avoid using "a decisive role" when the actual influence is minimal or shared among multiple factors. Overstating the role can weaken your argument and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decisive role" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object of a verb, often 'play' or 'have'. It identifies something as having a significant and determining impact on an event, process, or situation. This is supported by examples from Ludwig, where the phrase is used to emphasize the importance of different factors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

26%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decisive role" is a commonly used phrase that effectively conveys the significant impact of something in a particular situation. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, indicating its versatility. While synonyms like "a crucial role" and "a pivotal role" exist, it's important to choose the phrase that best reflects the specific nuance you want to convey. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being influenced and avoid overstating the actual impact. The phrase is used across a wide range of authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a crucial role

Substitutes "decisive" with "crucial", emphasizing the essential nature of the role.

a pivotal role

Replaces "decisive" with "pivotal", highlighting the turning-point aspect of the role.

a key role

Uses "key" instead of "decisive", suggesting that the role is fundamental and important.

a significant role

Replaces "decisive" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the role.

a central role

Uses "central" to indicate that the role is at the heart of the matter.

an instrumental role

Replaces "decisive" with "instrumental", suggesting that the role is vital for achieving a specific outcome.

a critical role

Uses "critical" instead of "decisive", implying that the role is essential to success or survival.

a determining role

Replaces "decisive" with "determining", highlighting the power of the role to shape the outcome.

a leading role

Uses "leading" to indicate that the role is prominent and influential.

a paramount role

Replaces "decisive" with "paramount", emphasizing the supreme importance of the role.

FAQs

How can I use "a decisive role" in a sentence?

You can use "a decisive role" to emphasize the significant impact of something. For example, "Technology played "a decisive role" in the company's success."

What are some alternatives to "a decisive role"?

You can use alternatives like "a crucial role", "a pivotal role", or "a key role" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "decisive role" or "important role"?

"Decisive role" implies a stronger, more determining influence than "important role". Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the level of impact.

What's the difference between "a decisive role" and "a central role"?

"A decisive role" implies that something directly influences an outcome, whereas "a central role" indicates that something is fundamentally important or at the heart of the matter. The two phrases aren't perfectly interchangeable.