a significant contrast

USAGE SUMMARY

"a significant contrast" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express a great deal of difference between two things. For example, "The new president's policies represent a significant contrast to those of his predecessor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"It is a significant contrast to current practice".

The New York Times

Even their approach to the task of autobiography offers a significant contrast.

The Guardian - Books

There is a significant contrast here with Labour's open approaches to the Welsh nationalists Plaid Cymru, who are in coalition with Labour in the Welsh assembly.

The Guardian

This is a significant contrast with other teams, who have a large number of European-based players: even Haiti entered this tournament with more experience.

The Guardian - Sport

Still, they said, the ruling by the Court of Appeals, one of the most closely watched courts in the country, offered a significant contrast to the federal law because it did not treat the fetus as a completely separate entity with rights distinct from and potentially hostile to those of the mother.

The New York Times

In a recent telephone interview she said the photos revealed the casual approach to designing weapons that prevailed at Livermore, in a significant contrast to the more formal, bureaucratic national security culture that was characteristic of Los Alamos.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

As a result, significant contrast enhancement was observed in OCT imaging of a mouse tumor model in vivo by the newly developed gold nanocages.

Biomedical Optics Express

Among other cancer types, there were one out of 14 gastric cancer samples (7.1%) and one out of six breast cancer samples (16.7%) detected as MTB-L positive, which was still a statistically significant contrast.

BioMed Research International

The ideal situation is one in which a significant intensity contrast between domains exists at an energy below the edge, and this contrast remains significant but reverses its sign at an energy above the edge.

Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations and Advances

It is worth mentioning that clear ambient noise HVSR peaks occur when a significant velocity contrast exists at some depth.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

Table 2 demonstrated that there was a significant increased Contrast in MOH (9.28 ± 3.11) compared with that in NC (7.94 ± 0.65)(P < 0.05).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a significant contrast" to clearly highlight substantial differences between two subjects, ensuring your audience understands the magnitude of the distinction.

Common error

While "significant" emphasizes the contrast, avoid stacking multiple intensifiers (e.g., "a very significant contrast") as this can weaken your writing's impact. Let the context establish the significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant contrast" functions as a noun phrase that highlights a notable difference between two or more entities. It typically serves to emphasize the degree to which they diverge. Ludwig's examples showcase this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a significant contrast" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to highlight notable differences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, particularly in science and news media. The expert rating reflects the phrase's reliability and clarity. To enhance your writing, use it judiciously, avoiding redundancy, and consider alternatives like "a marked difference" for varied expression. Remember to use the phrase to emphasize substantial distinctions between subjects, ensuring clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a marked difference

Emphasizes the clear and noticeable distinction between two things.

a considerable disparity

Highlights the inequality or imbalance between two items or situations.

a noticeable divergence

Focuses on the point where two things begin to move apart or differ.

a substantial variation

Indicates a large degree of change or difference.

a striking dissimilarity

Stresses the obvious and impressive lack of resemblance.

a distinct deviation

Implies a departure from a standard or expected norm.

a sharp distinction

Highlights the clear and precise difference between two things.

a pronounced gap

Draws attention to a significant space or difference between two things.

a major divergence

Emphasizes the large-scale separation or difference between two things.

a clear differentiation

Focuses on the act of distinguishing or telling apart two things.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant contrast" in a sentence?

Use "a significant contrast" to emphasize a notable difference between two or more things. For instance, "There is "a significant contrast" between his early and later works."

What are some alternatives to "a significant contrast"?

You can use alternatives like "a marked difference", "a considerable disparity", or "a noticeable divergence" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "significant contrast" or "big contrast"?

"Significant contrast" is generally preferred in formal writing because it sounds more professional and precise than "big contrast", which is more informal.

What's the difference between "a significant contrast" and "a subtle difference"?

"A significant contrast" indicates a clear and noticeable difference, while "a subtle difference" implies a difference that is not immediately obvious and requires careful observation.