a significant gap

USAGE SUMMARY

'a significant gap' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a big difference in quantity, time, or quality between two things. For example, "Recent studies have revealed a significant gap between the wages of men and women in the same job roles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That is still a significant gap.

The Economist

There's a significant gap in that theory, however.

The Guardian - Money

There is a significant gap in his offending.

The Guardian

The deal fills a significant gap in Facebook's service.

The New York Times

This is a significant gap in his record.

The New York Times - Arts

But there remains a significant gap on how to accomplish that, the officials said.

The New York Times

There was a significant gap until they felt confident enough culturally to be creative.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hamon's poll numbers are rising, but he has a significant gap to make up.

The New Yorker

It is now widely accepted that there is a significant gap in the delivery of justice.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This fills a significant gap in our collection of late Gothic, northern European sculpture".

The New York Times - Arts

Ray's rating of 1795 is more than 200 points higher than Christopher's, a significant gap.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant gap", ensure the context clearly defines what is being compared. Providing specific numerical data or qualitative descriptions strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant gap" when the difference is minimal or trivial. Overusing the phrase diminishes its impact and can mislead readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant gap" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "gap". This phrase commonly highlights a notable difference or disparity between two measurable or observable entities. Ludwig examples showcase its wide applicability across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a significant gap" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a notable difference or disparity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. To ensure clarity, define the elements being compared. While versatile, avoid using the phrase for trivial differences to maintain its intended impact. Consider alternatives like "a considerable difference" or "a marked disparity" to add nuance. When used appropriately, "a significant gap" effectively highlights important distinctions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable difference

Replaces "gap" with "difference" and "significant" with "considerable", emphasizing the degree of dissimilarity.

a marked disparity

Substitutes "gap" with "disparity" and "significant" with "marked", indicating a notable inequality.

a substantial divide

Replaces "gap" with "divide" and "significant" with "substantial", suggesting a clear separation.

a wide discrepancy

Uses "discrepancy" instead of "gap" and "wide" instead of "significant", highlighting the lack of agreement.

a notable distinction

Emphasizes the difference in quality or character by using "distinction" instead of "gap" and "notable" instead of "significant".

a pronounced inequality

Replaces "gap" with "inequality" and "significant" with "pronounced", pointing out an obvious lack of balance.

a major imbalance

Uses "imbalance" instead of "gap" and "major" instead of "significant", denoting a large lack of proportion.

a clear gulf

Replaces "gap" with "gulf" and "significant" with "clear", implying a vast and impassable difference.

a vast chasm

Emphasizes the immensity of the separation by using "chasm" instead of "gap" and "vast" instead of "significant".

a large margin

Replaces "gap" with "margin" and "significant" with "large", highlighting the extent or degree of difference.

FAQs

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

You can use "a significant gap" to describe a notable difference between two things. For instance, "There's "a significant gap" between the rich and the poor in this country."

What are some alternatives to using "a significant gap"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a considerable difference", "a marked disparity", or "a substantial divide".

Is it correct to say "a significantly gap" instead of "a significant gap"?

No, "a significantly gap" is grammatically incorrect. "Significant" is an adjective modifying the noun "gap", while "significantly" is an adverb. The correct phrase is ""a significant gap"".

What's the difference between "a significant gap" and "a slight gap"?

"A significant gap" indicates a large or important difference, while "a slight gap" suggests a small or minor difference.