a determining role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a determining role" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that something or someone plays a decisive role in a particular situation. For example: "The findings of this research study played a determining role in influencing public health policy in the state".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It has played a determining role in food security and is inspiring several other African countries".

The Guardian

But Fiona's own past has played a determining role in her life.

The New York Times - Books

Democrats still see some hope that the economy will play a determining role in the elections.

The New York Times

"Blogs and social media played a determining role in organizing the protests," the blogger JB Nguyen Huu Vinh told me.

The New Yorker

The presence of Orpheus also played a determining role in the program, as did the inclusion of Mr. Palmer's piece, which proved platitudinous if well meaning.

The New York Times - Arts

Beyond the name itself, we found that the popularity of other similar-sounding names plays a determining role.

The New York Times

Some foreign newspaper claimed it played a determining role in creating the movement of the Greek "indignados" who have occupied the squares of the whole country.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cone is poised to take a determining role in this series, but he declined comment when a growing crowd of reporters approached his locker after the game.

The New York Times - Sports

"She was in the midst of affirming her character, and she met the two men who would have a determining role in her life," Ms. Tautou said.

The New York Times

The state legally recognizes 26 faiths, but while a preamble to the new law mentions Judaism, Catholicism, Lutheranism and Islam, it singles out the Orthodox religion as playing "a determining role" in national culture and government.

The New York Times

In this way, mass extinctions, though missing from the original theory of evolution, have played a determining role in evolution's course; as Richard Leakey has put it, such events "restructure the biosphere" and so "create the pattern of life".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a determining role", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being determined. For example, "The climate played "a determining role" in the success of the agricultural project."

Common error

Avoid using "a determining role" when the factor only contributes partially to the outcome. Use phrases like "a contributing role" or "a significant role" instead to accurately reflect the level of influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a determining role" functions as a noun phrase that identifies something as having a decisive influence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. For instance, the example "Fire is a predictable ecosystem process that often plays "a determining role" in community structure and function" shows it defining the influence of fire.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a determining role" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to highlight a decisive influence. Ludwig AI confirms that its use is correct and appropriate across diverse contexts. As observed through Ludwig's examples, this phrase is particularly prevalent in scientific and news media sources. When using "a determining role", ensure clarity regarding the specific outcome being influenced and be mindful of overstating its importance when the factor only contributes partially.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a decisive role

Changes the adjective to "decisive", emphasizing the conclusiveness of the role.

a critical role

Swaps "determining" for "critical", stressing the importance and necessity of the role.

a crucial role

Substitutes "determining" with "crucial", highlighting the importance of the role.

a pivotal role

Replaces "determining" with "pivotal", suggesting that the role is central and critical.

a significant role

Uses "significant" instead of "determining", indicating the role is noteworthy and impactful.

a key role

Employs "key" to emphasize that the role is essential and fundamental.

a central role

Focuses on the role being at the heart of the matter, using "central" instead of "determining".

an instrumental role

Indicates the role is helpful in causing something to happen.

a leading role

Suggests the role is dominant and guiding, changing "determining" to "leading".

a primary role

Highlights that the role is of first importance, using "primary" as a substitute for "determining".

FAQs

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

You can use "a determining role" to describe something that strongly influences an outcome. For example, "Data analysis played "a determining role" in the project's success."

What are some alternatives to "a determining role"?

Alternatives include "a decisive role", "a crucial role", or "a pivotal role", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

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

Both "determining role" and "decisive role" are correct. "Determining" suggests setting or establishing something, while "decisive" implies settling an issue conclusively. The best choice depends on the context.

What is the difference between "a determining role" and "a significant role"?

"A determining role" suggests a more definitive influence on an outcome than "a significant role". Something with a determining role essentially dictates the result, whereas something with a significant role has a notable impact but might not be the only factor.