a positive breakthrough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a positive breakthrough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and beneficial advancement or discovery in a particular field or situation. Example: "The researchers announced a positive breakthrough in the development of a new vaccine that could save millions of lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Making a positive breakthrough on the ITA this week sets the tone for more ambitious agreements that are in discussion," said Frisbie.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For five years, Li's formula, known as a Gaussian copula function, looked like an unambiguously positive breakthrough, a piece of financial technology that allowed hugely complex risks to be modeled with more ease and accuracy than ever before.

Huffington Post

A majority of the experts surveyed in a recent Pew study see AI as a largely positive breakthrough that will help people accomplish more than ever before.

Forbes

Given the difficult 2013 China appears to be having, it is hard to expect many positive breakthroughs in the United States-China relationship in the near term.

The New York Times

Common explanations include: 1) receiving lower salaries than other specialties, 2) experiencing poor job prospects upon completion of nephrology training, 3) working long hours, 4) caring for complicated, high acuity, and/or sick patients, and/or 5) not witnessing positive breakthroughs in clinical research.

F1000Research

This was my body-positive breakthrough; I was going to rock all two inches of abdomen!

Huffington Post

Dynamic tests exposed a positive correlation between CO2 breakthrough time across the NiMR layer and liquid saturation.

Minerals Engineering

Houston were at home on Tuesday night for their quarter final, and played a positive game, though Brad Davis's breakthrough goal came very late and may not be enough to take them through when they travel to face Santos Laguna in the return (recent history seems to suggest nothing less than a 4-0 aggregate lead is advisable for MLS sides heading to Torreón).

The Guardian - Sport

And recent disarmament breakthroughs are a positive sign.

The Guardian - Opinion

The negotiators representing Greece's lenders are also proposing to pledge debt relief for the austerity-battered country – but officials stressed that a breakthrough hinged on a positive response from the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras.

The Guardian

He also identified two technologies where technological breakthroughs could have a positive impact: energy storage and carbon capture and sequestration.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a positive breakthrough", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific area or problem the breakthrough relates to, adding clarity and impact to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a positive breakthrough" to describe minor improvements or changes; reserve it for situations where there is a genuinely significant advancement or discovery.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a positive breakthrough" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "positive" modifies the noun "breakthrough". This construction is used to highlight a significant and beneficial advancement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a positive breakthrough" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a significant and beneficial advancement. According to Ludwig AI, its usage spans across various contexts, including news media, science, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's important to use it accurately, reserving it for truly notable advancements rather than minor improvements. Consider alternatives like "significant positive development" or "favorable turning point" to fine-tune the meaning. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, writers can effectively leverage this phrase to convey optimism and highlight meaningful progress. The phrase finds usage across varied authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Guardian, making it a reliable choice for expressing positive developments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant positive development

Replaces "breakthrough" with "development" and adds "significant" for emphasis.

a major positive advancement

Uses "advancement" instead of "breakthrough" and emphasizes its scale with "major".

a ground-breaking positive achievement

Substitutes "breakthrough" with "achievement" to highlight the accomplishment

a favorable turning point

Substitutes "breakthrough" with "turning point" to emphasize a change in direction.

a valuable positive improvement

Uses "improvement" instead of "breakthrough", emphasizing betterment and value.

a beneficial positive innovation

Replaces "breakthrough" with "innovation", focusing on novelty and benefit.

an impactful positive transformation

Replaces "breakthrough" with "transformation", stressing a significant change or shift.

a promising step forward

Replaces "breakthrough" with "step forward", highlighting progression.

an encouraging positive discovery

Substitutes "breakthrough" with "discovery", highlighting the finding of something new and promising.

a successful positive outcome

Replaces "breakthrough" with "outcome", focusing on the successful result.

FAQs

How can I use "a positive breakthrough" in a sentence?

You can use "a positive breakthrough" to describe a significant advancement or discovery, as in, "The new treatment represents "a positive breakthrough" in cancer research".

What's the difference between "a positive breakthrough" and "a significant achievement"?

"A positive breakthrough" implies a sudden, impactful advancement, while "a significant achievement" suggests a noteworthy accomplishment that may have been the result of sustained effort.

What can I say instead of "a positive breakthrough"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a major advancement", "a significant development", or "a promising step forward".

Is it always appropriate to use "a positive breakthrough"?

No, it's best used when referring to a development that is both beneficial and represents a notable departure from previous norms or limitations. Avoid using it for incremental improvements.