a significant material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant material" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to an important substance or resource, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "The research focused on a significant material used in renewable energy technologies."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"It is a significant material change in circumstances.

The Guardian

Grassroots activism at such a scale unsurprisingly had a significant material impact.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Instead, Tal crashed through with a temporary queen sacrifice that led to an endgame in which he had a significant material advantage and Smyslov resigned after 26 moves — one of the shortest losses of his career.

The New York Times

Typically, these are units with a significant material inventory, such as flash vessels, distillation columns, and liquid-phase reactors.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

Although n-type semiconducting ZnO is a significant material for optoelectronic applications, it is unstable under both acidic and alkaline conditions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The investigation of the wetting angle and the estimation of indium content revealed a significant material intermixing during the deposition time.

Nanoscale Res Lett

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

And as the first minister said at her Bute House press conference, the result of Thursday's referendum clearly constituted a "significant and material change" in the circumstances in which Scotland voted against independence less than two years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Zirconium, obscure before the late 1940s, became a significant engineering material for nuclear energy applications because it is highly transparent to neutrons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its devolved parliament passed a vote sanctioning a second referendum on independence, in accordance with the SNP's manifesto promise for another referendum in the case of "a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out the EU against [its] will" – putting another question mark over Britain's territorial integrity.

Vice

The first minister cited her party's 2016 manifesto, which outlines Holyrood's right to hold another referendum "if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU" against its will.

Huffington Post

Consequently, HTS-1 is a significant genetic material to study the floral development of wheat; this line also has the potential to increase wheat yield.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a substance or resource, consider stronger adjectives like "key", "crucial", or "vital" instead of "significant" to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "significant" as a generic adjective. Instead, specify why the material is important or impactful. For instance, instead of "a significant material", say "a material with significant tensile strength" or "a material with significant economic implications."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant material" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "material". It aims to identify a substance or resource that is important or impactful. However, Ludwig flags it as not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a significant material" appears in various contexts, including science and news media, Ludwig AI considers it grammatically incorrect and suggests alternatives. It functions as a noun phrase intending to emphasize the importance or impact of a substance. For improved clarity and impact, consider using stronger and more specific adjectives such as "key", "crucial", or "vital". Pay attention to the specific context and avoid overusing "significant" as a generic qualifier. Providing context on why the material is significant is also more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an important substance

Highlights the importance of the material, a direct synonym.

a key material

Highlights the material's role as being essential or fundamental.

a vital material

Indicates the material is necessary or essential for something.

a crucial substance

Focuses on the critical nature of the material, suggesting it is essential.

a meaningful material

Highlights that the material has significance or importance.

a consequential material

Focuses on the material's impact or the results it brings.

a noteworthy substance

Emphasizes the element of being deserving of attention, focusing on the substance itself.

a substantial material

Focuses on the amount or degree of the material's impact or presence.

a considerable substance

Similar to substantial, emphasizes the degree or extent of the material.

a prominent material

Suggests the material is well-known or easily noticeable.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "a significant material"?

Consider using stronger and more precise adjectives such as "a key material", "a crucial material", or "an important material" to more effectively convey the intended meaning.

How can I use "a significant material" more effectively in a sentence?

While "a significant material" is used, it's better to specify why it's significant. For example, "a material with significant impact resistance" is clearer.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a significant material"?

While commonly used, Ludwig AI suggests the phrase lacks clarity. Consider using alternatives that provide more specific information about the material's importance.

What's the difference between "a significant material" and "an important material"?

"An important material" is a more direct and widely accepted way to describe a material of consequence, while "a significant material" can be perceived as less clear and less grammatically sound.