a significant return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant return" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing investments, results, or outcomes that are notably positive or impactful. Example: "Investing in renewable energy can lead to a significant return on investment over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

He dismissed the notion that Monday's decision represented a significant return to the rule of law.

The New York Times

The growth in production has mirrored this activity and has shown a significant return on investment.

The Guardian

(Thankfully, the bleak Mostly Harmless represented a significant return to form).

The Guardian - Books

Think long-term: Some charities are really shortsighted, wanting every event to make a significant return.

The Guardian

The school's heavy investment in its intellectual infrastructure yields a significant return.

The New Yorker

It always seemed likely the Premier league's reigning player of the year would enjoy a significant return.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

It is also a significant issue for soldiers returning from combat.

The New York Times - Sports

But it will be dozens of countries and you'll be able to see a very significant return on this format of meeting".

The Guardian

We find a high, significant return to high education of about 17% in rural and 19% in urban areas (Appendix: Table 7, columns 5 and 7).

IZA Journal of Migration

Their job is to find undervalued assets and build those up for an ultimate, significant return on investment".

Los Angeles Times

Facebook now has data that helps it prove to marketers that there is a specific — and significant — return on their investment in news-feed ads.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing investments, quantify "a significant return" with specific numbers or metrics to provide a clearer understanding of the outcome. For example, "The project yielded a significant return of 20% in the first year."

Common error

Avoid using "a significant return" loosely without supporting data or context. Ensure there's demonstrable evidence to back up the claim of significance, lest it be perceived as hyperbole.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant return" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the subject complement. It describes a measurable outcome or benefit resulting from an action or investment, and is frequently used to evaluate success or profitability. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant return" is a noun phrase used to describe a notably positive outcome from an investment, effort, or action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. It denotes a substantial gain, often quantified with specific metrics to emphasize the degree of success. While the phrase can appear in informal settings, it is most at home in neutral to professional environments. To avoid misinterpretations, ensure the claim of significance is supported with relevant data or context. Alternatives such as ""a considerable yield"" or ""a substantial gain"" can be used to express similar meanings depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable yield

Replaces "return" with "yield", emphasizing the output or profit generated, maintains the same level of significance.

a substantial gain

Substitutes "return" with "gain", focusing on the increase or profit achieved; the intensity of "significant" is kept with "substantial".

a noteworthy result

Replaces financial connotations with a more general outcome, preserving the importance implied by "significant".

a marked improvement

Shifts the focus to progress or enhancement, maintaining the implication of a considerable positive change.

a meaningful recovery

Emphasizes restoration or overcoming a deficit, while still indicating a strong degree of success.

a major turnaround

Highlights a shift from negative to positive, implying a substantial and impactful change of direction.

a promising comeback

Focuses on the act of returning to a previous state, implying potential for future success or high performance.

a striking rebound

Highlights a recovery or bounce-back, suggesting vigor and a visible positive reaction.

a valuable payback

Emphasizes the benefit received in return for something, underlining the value or worth of the return.

a worthwhile reimbursement

Implies compensation or repayment that is of considerable value or benefit, often in a financial context.

FAQs

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

You can use "a significant return" to describe investments, efforts, or changes that have yielded substantial positive results. For example, "The company saw "a significant return" on its marketing investment."

What can I say instead of "a significant return"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable yield", "a substantial gain", or "a noteworthy result" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a substantial return" or "a significant return"?

Both ""a significant return"" and "a substantial return" are appropriate and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on personal preference and the specific nuance you wish to convey, where "substantial" may imply a larger quantity.

In what contexts is "a significant return" most commonly used?

"A significant return" is frequently used in financial, business, and investment contexts to describe profitable outcomes. However, it can also apply more broadly to any situation where efforts or actions result in a noteworthy positive outcome.