a formidable advantage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a formidable advantage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a significant or powerful benefit that one has over others in a competitive context. Example: "The team's extensive experience in the industry gave them a formidable advantage over their competitors during the negotiations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The database has yielded the company a formidable advantage since most rivals lack a similar system.

Harvard Business Review

In such cases being an early mover can result in a formidable advantage.

Harvard Business Review

But Clinton enters the race with a formidable advantage and a wealth of support built up by the Ready for Hillary campaign network.

The Guardian

Her name-recognition, in a district that has had a representative with the same surname since 1933, gives her a formidable advantage.

The Economist

In a nutshell, Labour has a formidable advantage over the Tories on health, but scarcely more than a third of voters trust Ed Miliband's party on the issue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pelosi's remarks came as opinion polls show Barack Obama slowly gaining on Clinton in Pennsylvania, where Clinton once held a formidable advantage.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But increasingly OpenTable seems to be inching in the user-friendly direction, and it turns out being the only player who knows exactly where you've dined, when, and what availability there is in restaurants near you at every moment can be a pretty formidable advantage.

TechCrunch

Donald J. Trump rolled to victory in the Republican presidential primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina on Tuesday, driving Senator Marco Rubio from the race and amassing a formidable delegate advantage that will be exceedingly difficult for any rival to overcome.

The New York Times

NATO commanders worry that even though their militaries are significantly stronger than those under the command of the Kremlin, Russia's ability to rush its troops across its own territory give it a formidable practical advantage.

The Washington Post

Given the size of its healthcare market, its ageing population, its well-established pharmaceutical industry and the quality of its research centres and investigators, Europe has a formidable comparative advantage in clinical research.

BMJ Open

The most dominant cable news channel for nearly a decade and a political force in its own right, Fox has seen its once formidable advantage over CNN erode in this presidential election year, as both CNN and MSNBC have added viewers at far more dramatic rates.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a formidable advantage" to describe capabilities or resources that give an entity a noticeable edge over others. This can apply to businesses, individuals, or even abstract concepts.

Common error

Avoid using "a formidable advantage" when the benefit is marginal or insignificant. Overstating the advantage can weaken your argument and undermine your credibility. Make sure the context supports the claim of it being 'formidable'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a formidable advantage" functions as a noun phrase, where "formidable" is an adjective modifying the noun "advantage". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase describes something that creates or increases one's odds of success.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

12.5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6.25%

Academia

6.25%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a formidable advantage" is a noun phrase that denotes a significant and impactful benefit or edge. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically correct and suitable for describing substantial strengths in various contexts. Usage is most frequent in "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science", indicating broad applicability. When employing this phrase, ensure the advantage is clearly defined and its impact is appropriately conveyed to maintain credibility and strengthen your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant advantage

Emphasizes the importance of the advantage, focusing on its impact.

a substantial advantage

Highlights the considerable size or degree of the advantage.

a considerable edge

Focuses on the competitive aspect, implying a slight but important lead.

a powerful asset

Shifts the focus to the resource providing the advantage, emphasizing its strength.

a dominant position

Highlights the control and superiority gained from the advantage.

a commanding lead

Focuses on being ahead, often in a quantifiable way.

a strategic asset

Highlights the benefit as part of an effective plan.

a major strength

Emphasizes a core capability that provides an advantage.

a decisive edge

Highlights that the benefit is what leads to a clear win.

an upper hand

Informal idiom for having control or an advantage in a situation.

FAQs

How to use "a formidable advantage" in a sentence?

Use "a formidable advantage" to describe a significant and impactful edge that someone or something possesses. For example, "The company's innovative technology gave them "a formidable advantage" in the market."

What can I say instead of "a formidable advantage"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant edge", "a substantial benefit", or "a considerable lead" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a formidable advantage"?

Yes, the phrase "a formidable advantage" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a powerful or significant benefit. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources.

What's the difference between "a formidable advantage" and "a slight advantage"?

"A formidable advantage" implies a strong, impactful benefit, while "a slight advantage" suggests a minor or marginal edge. The choice depends on the magnitude of the benefit you wish to convey.