a significant crisis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant crisis" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that is serious and requires immediate attention or action. Example: "The company faced a significant crisis when its main product was recalled due to safety concerns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"The potential for a significant crisis in the Taiwan Strait is very high".

The New York Times

Our neonatal services have been under-resourced for too long and already face a significant crisis in terms of specialist staffing and capacity.

The Guardian

Perhaps easy money is still appropriate — but a zero-rate policy creates enormous distortions in incentives and increases the likelihood of a significant crisis later.

The New York Times

Lacking a significant crisis or conflict, it may disappoint fans of Lowry, who will look for more substance than she delivers here.

The New York Times - Books

Tim will also play an active role in advising the board's Living Will Committee to create a series of contingencies in the event of a significant crisis of confidence like the one in late 2008.

The New York Times

"When we first started, for the first few years we were saying people needed between eight days and two weeks before the welfare system could get solutions in place, if they had lost their job or a significant crisis had occurred.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Now, we face a truly significant crisis.

The New York Times

That caused a pretty significant crisis between the US and China.

Vice

"A significant financial crisis has been allowed to morph into a full-fledged global panic.

The New York Times

Mr. Lindner's announcement on Wednesday threw his party into confusion, prompting a significant leadership crisis for the second time this year after party chairman Guido Westerwelle stepped down in May.

The New York Times

Chairman Philippe Diaz said the company had chosen to support the film to "correct a major issue, which is the suppression of medical data by a governmental agency that may very well be contributing to a significant health crisis".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a significant crisis" when you want to emphasize the substantial impact and urgency of a problematic situation. It suggests that the matter requires serious attention and decisive action.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant crisis" to describe minor inconveniences or everyday problems. Overusing the term can diminish its impact and credibility when addressing genuinely serious situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant crisis" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where 'significant' modifies the noun 'crisis'. It identifies a particular event or period characterized by instability or danger. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English and is used to describe serious situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant crisis" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a serious and pressing situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid expression in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, scientific, and wiki contexts, it serves to emphasize the importance and potential impact of a crisis, prompting awareness and necessary action. When using the phrase, be mindful to reserve it for genuinely substantial issues and consider alternatives like "a major emergency" or "a critical situation" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major emergency

Replaces 'crisis' with 'emergency', suggesting a situation requiring immediate action.

a critical situation

Substitutes 'significant crisis' with 'critical situation', emphasizing the severity of the circumstances.

a serious predicament

Uses 'predicament' to convey a difficult or dangerous situation.

a grave emergency

Replaces 'significant' with 'grave' to intensify the severity.

a dire situation

Uses 'dire' to emphasize the urgency and seriousness of the situation.

a considerable problem

Replaces 'crisis' with 'problem', framing it as a challenge to be solved.

a substantial challenge

Emphasizes the magnitude of the difficulty.

a worrisome event

Highlights the concerning nature of the event.

an acute dilemma

Substitutes 'crisis' with 'dilemma', framing it as a difficult choice or problem.

a pressing issue

Focuses on the urgency and importance of the problem at hand.

FAQs

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

You can use "a significant crisis" to describe situations like, "The company faced "a significant crisis" when its product was recalled" or "The healthcare system is experiencing "a significant crisis" due to the pandemic".

What are some alternatives to "a significant crisis"?

Alternatives include "a major emergency", "a critical situation", or "a serious predicament". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is it always necessary to use the article 'a' before "significant crisis"?

In most cases, yes. The article 'a' is needed when referring to a single, non-specific crisis. However, you might omit it when speaking in general terms, such as, "Significant crisis management is crucial for any organization".

What's the difference between "a significant crisis" and "a minor setback"?

"A significant crisis" indicates a serious and potentially destabilizing event. In contrast, "a minor setback" refers to a small, temporary obstacle that doesn't pose a major threat.