a significant effect on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant effect on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the impact or influence that something has on another thing or situation. Example: "The new policy had a significant effect on employee productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And each has a significant effect on health.

The New York Times - Science

They didn't find a significant effect on employment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Everything we do has a significant effect on everything else.

Stanford University

The Royal family has a significant effect on British tourism.

The Telegraph

But it has also had a significant effect on society.

The New York Times

Sulfur had a significant effect on WSP.

Bioresource Technology

Education has a significant effect on CFC.

Personality and Individual Differences

"Apple's had a significant effect on my life.

The New York Times

I think that had a significant effect on Emlen.

The New York Times - Sports

That could have a significant effect on retirement rates in the future.

The New York Times

He added that the storm would have a significant effect on tourism.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant effect on", ensure you quantify or qualify the effect to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, specify the direction or magnitude of the effect to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant effect on" when the actual impact is minimal or unsubstantiated. Use more moderate language if the effect is not truly substantial to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant effect on" functions as a modifier describing the extent to which something influences something else. It highlights that the influence is noteworthy and not trivial. Ludwig examples show it being used to describe impact across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

53%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a significant effect on" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a noteworthy influence. It appears frequently across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic sources. Ludwig's analysis confirms its widespread use and acceptability. When using this phrase, ensure that the significance is justified and quantifiable to avoid overstatement and maintain clarity. Alternatives such as "a considerable impact on" or "a notable influence on" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable impact on

Changes "effect" to "impact" and "significant" to "considerable", emphasizing the magnitude of the influence.

a notable influence on

Substitutes "effect" with "influence" and "significant" with "notable", highlighting the power to shape something.

a substantial impact on

Replaces "effect" with "impact" and "significant" with "substantial", stressing the size or importance of the effect.

a major influence on

Replaces "effect" with "influence" and "significant" with "major", indicating a primary role in affecting something.

a marked effect on

Changes "significant" to "marked", suggesting that the effect is easily noticeable or distinct.

a profound impact on

Replaces "effect" with "impact" and "significant" with "profound", indicating a deep and far-reaching influence.

a strong effect on

Substitutes "significant" with "strong", focusing on the intensity or power of the effect.

a considerable effect upon

Uses "upon" instead of "on", which is a more formal variation but maintains the core meaning.

a powerful effect on

Replaces "significant" with "powerful", emphasizing the capacity to produce a strong result.

a weighty effect on

Substitutes "significant" with "weighty", emphasizing importance and consequence of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant effect on" in a sentence?

You can use "a significant effect on" to describe how something impacts another thing. For example, "The new policy had "a significant effect on" employee morale."

What are some alternatives to "a significant effect on"?

Alternatives include "a considerable impact on", "a notable influence on", or "a substantial impact on", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "significant effect on" or "significant impact on"?

Both "significant effect on" and "significant impact on" are correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on stylistic preference, though "impact" often suggests a more forceful or sudden influence.

What's the difference between "a significant effect on" and "a marginal effect on"?

"A significant effect on" indicates a considerable influence, while "a marginal effect on" suggests a small or negligible influence. The terms are essentially opposites in terms of the degree of influence.