a significant thing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant thing to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the importance or relevance of an action or concept in relation to something else. Example: "It is a significant thing to consider when making decisions about our future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Driving the new Prius is a significant thing to do right now.

Independent

"It is a significant thing to have foreign-born people, who are notoriously hard to organize, organizing themselves," Mr. Donnelly said.

The New York Times

"If one or two people who got activated continue to do the work, that's a significant thing to have happened," he said.

The New York Times

For example, I think Murdoch's position on climate change might be quite a significant thing to understand, especially as he recently bought National Geographic, although possibly he just needed to own something that still showed tits.

The Guardian - Opinion

That's a significant thing to consider, in a zeitgeist sort of way.

Forbes

So it's a significant thing to be denied access to, especially when it's just off the back of a trivial design decision, such as which button does which action, or use of red and green for team colours".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Ovide has said publicly that he fully intends at the end of the process to endorse a candidate, and that will be a pretty significant thing to get".

The New York Times

"A state visit is the highest mark of respect and esteem that one country can pay to another in the diplomatic parlance so the fact that the president of Ireland is paying the first state visit by an Irish president to the UK next year is extremely meaningful, it's a very significant thing to do," he said.

BBC

"This was a very significant thing to do," she said.

Los Angeles Times

I think that is a really significant thing to understand regarding how we learn from God.

Huffington Post

It's a very significant thing to encourage this community online, and I hope we're able to do that with the foundation too.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a significant thing to" when you want to emphasize the importance or relevance of something in relation to a specific context or outcome. For example, "Understanding market trends is a significant thing to consider before launching a new product."

Common error

Avoid overusing "a significant thing to" in contexts where a simpler adjective like 'important' or 'relevant' would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose and detract from its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant thing to" functions as a nominal phrase that highlights the importance or relevance of an action, concept, or element. It draws attention to something deserving consideration or emphasis. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a significant thing to" serves to emphasize the importance or relevance of something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically sound and versatile, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "an important matter to" or "a crucial aspect to" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. It's crucial to avoid overuse and ensure that its application genuinely adds value to the clarity and impact of your writing. This phrase can elevate your writing if use well, but also it can make you look verbose when not needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an important matter to

Replaces 'significant' with 'important' and 'thing' with 'matter', slightly altering the emphasis while retaining the core meaning of relevance.

a crucial aspect to

Substitutes 'significant' with 'crucial' and 'thing' with 'aspect', highlighting the critical nature of the element being considered.

a noteworthy element to

Replaces 'significant' with 'noteworthy' and 'thing' with 'element', shifting the focus to something deserving attention.

a considerable factor to

Replaces 'significant' with 'considerable' and 'thing' with 'factor', emphasizing the magnitude or influence of the element.

a remarkable point to

Substitutes 'significant' with 'remarkable' and 'thing' with 'point', highlighting the unusual or exceptional nature of the element.

a substantial item to

Replaces 'significant' with 'substantial' and 'thing' with 'item', stressing the tangible or concrete nature of the element.

a key consideration to

Replaces 'significant' with 'key' and 'thing' with 'consideration', emphasizing the importance of the element in a decision-making process.

a vital component to

Replaces 'significant' with 'vital' and 'thing' with 'component', stressing the essential nature of the element for a larger whole.

a consequential item for

Replaces 'thing to' with 'item for', and 'significant' with 'consequential', emphasizing the results of the item for something or someone.

a primary concern for

Replaces 'thing to' with 'concern for', and 'significant' with 'primary', highlighting that something is essencial for someone.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant thing to" in a sentence?

Use "a significant thing to" to emphasize the importance or relevance of something. For example: "Understanding the cultural context is "a significant thing to" consider when translating literature."

What are some alternatives to "a significant thing to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "an important matter to", "a crucial aspect to", or "a noteworthy element to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a very significant thing to"?

While grammatically correct, using "very" before "significant" can sometimes be redundant. Consider whether "a crucial aspect to" or another alternative might be more impactful.

What's the difference between "a significant thing to" and "significant for"?

"A significant thing to" emphasizes the thing's importance in relation to something else, while "significant for" highlights the thing's impact or relevance specifically for a particular entity or purpose. For example, "the discovery was "a significant thing to" the scientific community because it was significant for cancer treatment".