a great material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a great material" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to something that is of high quality. For example, "This silk is a great material for making dresses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Cardboard is affordable, colourful, safe, environmentally friendly and can be easily folded away making it a great material for children's furniture.

Independent

One favorite was PlayPlax, a set of colorful transparent polystyrene squares ("a great material with beautiful properties," he said) with slots that allowed them to fit together.

The New York Times

"Mushroom packaging is a great material as it's based on common agricultural waste products such as cotton and rice hulls, which are placed in molds and injected with mushroom spores," says Miller.

The Guardian

GaN is a great material for making optoelectronic devices in the blue, blue-violet and green bands.

Progress in Quantum Electronics

Shit can be a great material for painting and sculpting.

Vice

Silicon is a great material for fabricating ICs, but it's not an efficient light emitter.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

At the meeting, Peng advocated a greater material commitment to the defense of Shanxi, but Mao disagreed and wanted the Red Army to reduce its commitment to fighting the Japanese.

Wikipedia

A slight overrepresentation of male dogs was also found in a greater material of Norwegian Gordon setters with symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy (Trotland, R. pers. com. 1998) where the female/male distribution was 23/33.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Overall there's a lot of great material, the whole show is a knockout.

Huffington Post

"You have a body of great material.

The New York Times - Magazine

After all, there is a wealth of great material to work with.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a material, follow "a great material" with specific details about its properties or uses to provide a more informative and impactful description. For example, "This new alloy is a great material for aerospace applications because of its high strength-to-weight ratio."

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "great" to describe materials. Instead, use specific adjectives that accurately reflect the material's unique characteristics, such as "durable", "flexible", or "heat-resistant."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great material" functions primarily as a noun phrase that includes an adjective modifying the noun "material". It is used to describe a substance with desirable qualities. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great material" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a substance of high quality or suitability. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while not exceedingly common, it appears consistently across diverse sources like news, science, and wikis. To improve writing, follow the advice of being specific and descriptive rather than over-relying on the adjective "great". Consider alternatives like "an excellent material" or "a superb material" to enhance precision. The phrase functions as a positive evaluation and maintains a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a superb material

Replaces "great" with "superb", suggesting an even higher level of excellence.

an excellent material

Substitutes "great" with "excellent", offering a more formal and universally accepted synonym.

a fantastic material

Replaces "great" with "fantastic", injecting a sense of enthusiasm and excitement.

a wonderful material

Uses "wonderful" in place of "great", conveying a feeling of delight and admiration.

a remarkable material

Replaces "great" with "remarkable", highlighting the material's noteworthy or exceptional qualities.

a top-notch material

Uses the idiomatic expression "top-notch" to emphasize the high quality of the material.

a premium material

Emphasizes the superior quality and often higher cost associated with the material.

a high-quality material

More directly states the material's positive attribute of being high in quality.

an exceptional material

Uses "exceptional" instead of "great" to describe a material that stands out from the norm.

a choice material

Presents the material as a carefully selected and superior option.

FAQs

How can I use "a great material" in a sentence?

You can use "a great material" to describe something that is of high quality or well-suited for a particular purpose. For example, "This carbon fiber is a great material for building lightweight bicycle frames."

What can I say instead of "a great material"?

You can use alternatives like "an excellent material", "a superb material", or "a high-quality material" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a great material" or "an excellent material"?

Both "a great material" and "an excellent material" are acceptable, but "excellent" often sounds more formal and professional, while "great" can feel slightly more casual.

What makes something "a great material"?

A material can be considered "a great material" due to its specific properties, such as strength, durability, flexibility, or resistance to certain conditions. The suitability often depends on the intended application.