a true success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a true success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that has achieved genuine or significant success in a particular area or endeavor. Example: "After years of hard work and dedication, her startup became a true success, attracting investors and customers alike."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

As good as it sounds to be smart and successful, it is never a true success if your home is a mess, your family life is in chaos, and your emotional health is nothing to be proud of.

Huffington Post

"He's a true success story," Mike Piazza said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Hers is a true success story," Mr. Martins said.

The New York Times - Arts

He was a first generation American and a true success story.

The New York Times

A Solyndra official, David Miller, called one such report baseless and noted that Solyndra "had no intention of going out of business" and that its goal was to be "a true success story for this administration to point to".

The New York Times

While his Presidency had been a true success — health-care reform, sane economic policies, sane Supreme Court Justices, an end to torture, and all the rest — his specific political project has in many ways failed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

For the spleen, an increasing number of attempts lead to a lower true success rate (p = 0.003).

BMC Clinical Pathology

The sample size of 60 was chosen in line with the expectation of a ≥90% true success rate.

American Journal of Gastroenterology

A "dispiriting" sojourn in Hollywood for the annual "TV pilot season", landed him a role in ABC's 2011 fantasy series Once Upon a Time, but true success was to come from a very different Hollywood – once closer to home; for Dornan grew up in Hollywood, County Down, a town on the edge of Belfast.

Independent

So here's how Eddie Hall took that failure – a technical failure, wrapped in a cloud of true success – and forged it into something more: forged it into even more motivation, to go and crush every record that has ever been broken, to become a legend—.

Vice

The LTA chairman, David Gregson, added: "We set out to recruit a CEO with true success in business, with exceptional leadership credentials and ideally with significant knowledge of tennis.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a true success" when you want to emphasize the genuine and complete nature of an achievement, distinguishing it from superficial or short-lived successes.

Common error

Avoid using "a true success" in overly general or predictable situations. Opt for more specific and descriptive language to convey the nature of the success more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a true success" functions as a noun phrase, where "true" modifies the noun "success". As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it describes something or someone that has demonstrably achieved a positive and desired outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a true success" is a common phrase used to denote genuine and significant achievements. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical status is correct, and it finds frequent usage in contexts such as news and media, science, and formal business settings. To enhance your writing, consider using the phrase when you want to emphasize the authenticity and completeness of a success, but avoid overuse in clichéd contexts. Alternatives like "a genuine triumph" or "a real accomplishment" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a genuine triumph

Replaces "success" with "triumph", highlighting a significant victory or achievement.

a real accomplishment

Substitutes "success" with "accomplishment", focusing on the completion of a goal or task.

an authentic achievement

Replaces both "true" and "success" with synonyms, adding a sense of credibility and genuine attainment.

a resounding victory

Emphasizes the decisiveness and impact of the success.

a significant breakthrough

Highlights the innovative and transformative nature of the success.

a notable feat

Focuses on the skill and effort required to achieve the success.

a positive result

Provides a generalized version of a successful outcome without explicitly mentioning the effort.

a worthwhile endeavor

Places focus on the value and purpose behind the efforts that led to success.

a fruitful outcome

Emphasizes the abundance and positive consequences of the success.

a remarkable attainment

Highlights the exceptional and noteworthy nature of the achievement.

FAQs

How can I use "a true success" in a sentence?

"A true success" is typically used to describe an outcome, person, or project that has achieved significant and genuine positive results. For instance, "The project was "a true success", exceeding all expectations".

What are some alternatives to "a true success"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a genuine triumph", "a real accomplishment", or "a resounding victory" as alternatives to "a true success".

Is it redundant to say "a true success story"?

While "success story" implies a positive outcome, adding "true" emphasizes the authenticity and completeness of the success. It's not strictly redundant, but consider if the emphasis is necessary for your intended meaning.

What distinguishes "a true success" from just "success"?

The adjective "true" emphasizes the genuineness, validity, and comprehensive nature of the success. It implies that the success is not superficial or fleeting but deeply rooted and well-deserved.