a large act of help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large act of help" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used when describing a significant or substantial assistance provided to someone in need. Example: "The community came together to organize a large act of help for the families affected by the disaster."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It is like a large act of providence.

Vice

Small and large acts of generosity, compassion and helping others can inspire a chain of more good actions from others -- and this social influence spreads for up to three degrees of separation.

Huffington Post

Still, there was an even larger act of performance Osborne had to pull off.

The Guardian - Opinion

Remove from the grill to a large platter with the help of two large spatulas.

The New York Times - Magazine

This study adds preliminary support to the act of helping, as opposed to the receiving of help, as a necessary function of recovery support relationships [ 38].

BMC Psychiatry

The act of helping can be costly to the helper.

AoB PLANTS

"There are a large number of Muslims that hold on to their identity as Muslims, but choose not to practice, not to act out their beliefs in everyday life," said Ihsan Bagby, a professor and an imam at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., who helped write the report of a large study on American Muslims this year.

The New York Times

A large pool of experts will help with this.

BMC Public Health

And a kind word, a willing listener, a shared meal, and any number of large and small acts of assistance help keep people afloat and ease their distress after a death.

Harvard University

The plot is often predictable; it requires a large helping of artificial contrivance; and it lurches into melodrama in the final act.

BBC

An instrumental player in a large coalition of organizations that helped shape ObamaCare, Dawes tells the story of the Affordable Care Act with urgency and intimate detail.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing assistance, consider using stronger verbs like 'assist', 'aid', or 'support' to make your writing more impactful. For example, instead of "a large act of help", try "a significant act of assistance".

Common error

Avoid turning verbs into nouns unnecessarily. Phrases like "act of help" can often be replaced with more direct verb phrases to create clearer and more concise sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a large act of help" functions as a noun phrase, describing a significant instance of providing assistance. While semantically understandable, Ludwig indicates it's not the most common or stylistically preferred phrasing.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a large act of help" describes a significant instance of providing assistance. However, Ludwig indicates that this phrasing isn't the most common or stylistically elegant choice. While grammatically acceptable, it's suggested to consider more impactful and precise alternatives such as "a significant act of assistance" or "a substantial act of support". These alternatives enhance clarity and add greater emphasis to the intended message. Using stronger verbs and avoiding unnecessary nominalizations can further improve the effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant act of assistance

Replaces 'large' with 'significant' and 'help' with 'assistance', maintaining a formal tone.

a substantial act of support

Substitutes 'large' with 'substantial' and 'help' with 'support', emphasizing the supportive nature of the action.

a major helping hand

Uses a more idiomatic expression, replacing 'act of help' with 'helping hand' and 'large' with 'major'.

a considerable act of aid

Replaces 'large' with 'considerable' and 'help' with 'aid', suggesting a noteworthy contribution.

a generous act of assistance

Focuses on the generosity involved in the act, replacing 'large' with 'generous' and 'help' with 'assistance'.

a monumental act of charity

Emphasizes the scale and charitable nature of the act, substituting 'large' with 'monumental' and 'help' with 'charity'.

a sweeping act of kindness

Highlights the breadth and positive nature of the act, replacing 'large' with 'sweeping' and 'help' with 'kindness'.

an extensive helping effort

Shifts the focus to the effort involved, replacing 'act of help' with 'helping effort' and 'large' with 'extensive'.

a sizable assistance initiative

Presents the action as a planned initiative, replacing 'act of help' with 'assistance initiative' and 'large' with 'sizable'.

a grand gesture of support

Uses a more emotive expression, focusing on the symbolic nature of the support, replacing 'act of help' with 'gesture of support' and 'large' with 'grand'.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "a large act of help"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant act of assistance", "a substantial act of support", or "a major helping hand depending on the context.

Is "a large act of help" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, the phrase "a large act of help" is not the most common or elegant way to express the idea. Alternatives might be preferable for clarity and impact.

How can I make my writing more concise when describing acts of assistance?

Instead of using the nominalization "act of help", consider using a more direct verb phrase such as "provide significant assistance" or "offer substantial support".

What does "a large act of help" typically refer to?

The phrase "a large act of help" typically refers to a significant or substantial instance of providing assistance to someone in need, often involving considerable effort or resources.