a decisive success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decisive success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an outcome that is clearly successful and leaves no doubt about its effectiveness. Example: "The team's innovative strategy led to a decisive success in the market, surpassing all expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

As the improving Morpheus pulled up, after a decisive success, a squall of rain sobbed from a mournful sky.

Independent

There was just half a length in it at the line, but it was still a decisive success.

The Guardian - Sport

Having prophesied a decisive success without "heavy losses," he had lost 325,000 men and inflicted no comparable damage on the Germans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Coneygree, a half-brother to Carruthers bred by the late Lord Oaksey, provided edifying relief from the increasing hegemony of jumping's biggest stables with a decisive success in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdlee for Mark Bradstock, while Mags Mullins exported the bumper to Ireland through Anonis.

Independent

Others to use the racecourse in more earnest over the weekend included Quinz and Captain Chris, who gave Philip Hobbs a significant double at Kempton, while yesterday Celestial Halo sealed his return to form with a decisive success in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

Independent

Instead, the Imperial Japanese Navy reorganized, concentrating the majority of its remaining fighting strength in the hope of achieving a decisive success against the Americans.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A counter-attack in 1009 failed at the Battle of Kreta, and although the Byzantines themselves did not achieve any decisive success, their methodical war of attrition deprived the Bulgarians of their strongholds and gradually weakened their forces.

Wikipedia

This reformer, whose doctrines were partly inspired by those of Mani, was granted an interview by Qobād as Shāpūr I had received Mani a long time before, but with a more decisive success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bonfire, ridden by veteran Jimmy Fortune in the silks of a 20-share Highclere Racing syndicate, staked his Classic claim with a narrow but decisive success in the often significant Dante Stakes at York.

BBC

"It is a year where negative trends have to be reversed or they will become irreversible," he said, but added that the world needed to have realistic expectations: "Decisive success within a year or two in a country marred by conflict is unachievable".

The New York Times

Al Kazeem's decisive success in the Eclipse Stakes, his third in a row at Group 1 level, confirmed him as Britain's best middle-distance performer and a most credible candidate for the end-of-year showdown in the division, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a decisive success" to underscore the clarity and impact of a positive outcome, particularly when you want to emphasize that there is no room for doubt about the achievement. This phrase is more impactful than simply stating something was "successful".

Common error

Avoid using "a decisive success" in very casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase carries a degree of formality and is best suited for professional, news-related, or academic contexts. Simpler alternatives like "a big win" might be more appropriate in less formal situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decisive success" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes a specific outcome or achievement. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and is used to indicate something positive that has happened.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decisive success" is a grammatically correct and impactful phrase used to describe a clear and unambiguous positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While less frequent in informal contexts, it is well-suited for news, academic writing, and professional communications. Alternatives like "a resounding triumph" or "a clear victory" can be used to vary the language. However, in order to properly contextualize this phrase it's important to remember that the overall tone can depend on the context and the author's intentions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a resounding triumph

Emphasizes the magnitude and widespread nature of the success.

a clear victory

Highlights the unambiguous nature of the win.

a significant achievement

Focuses on the importance and impact of the accomplishment.

a notable accomplishment

Emphasizes the memorability and remarkableness of the success.

a sweeping victory

Suggests a comprehensive and overwhelming success.

a definitive win

Stresses the conclusiveness and finality of the success.

an unqualified success

Indicates that the success is complete and without any reservations.

a major breakthrough

Highlights the innovative and transformative nature of the success.

an emphatic victory

Stresses the forceful and undeniable character of the win.

a landmark success

Emphasizes the historical importance and lasting impact of the achievement.

FAQs

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

You can use "a decisive success" to describe a clear and impactful positive outcome. For example, "The company's new marketing campaign led to "a decisive success", increasing sales by 50%."

What can I say instead of "a decisive success"?

You can use alternatives like "a clear victory", "a resounding triumph", or "a significant achievement", depending on the context.

Is "a decisive success" formal or informal?

"A decisive success" leans towards the formal side. It's appropriate for professional, academic, or news-related contexts, but might sound out of place in very casual conversations.

What's the difference between "a decisive success" and "a major success"?

"A decisive success" emphasizes the clarity and conclusiveness of the positive outcome, while "a major success" simply highlights the significance of the achievement. They are similar, but "a decisive success" implies less room for ambiguity.