a worthwhile contribution to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a worthwhile contribution to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the value or significance of someone's input or effort in a particular context or field. Example: "Her research was a worthwhile contribution to the understanding of climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But it can and must make a worthwhile contribution to restoring confidence in the global economy and so - over time - help people everywhere get back to work.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is why groups such as the Women's Institute - with whom I have discussed the issue at length and know from personal experience that they have a worthwhile contribution to make to the debate - are so important to this process.

The Guardian

"The money can then be used by the surviving shareholders to repurchase shares which may have passed to a beneficiary who does not have the experience to make a worthwhile contribution to the business," says Matt Morris from broker LifeSearch.

Independent

This paper discusses if and how multi-stakeholder involvement can make a worthwhile contribution to the development of agricultural policy in the enlarged EU, using the example of organic farming.

Food Policy

(iii) The software organization has developed a new artefact that seems to be a worthwhile contribution to agile software development in the large: 'delivery stories', which complement user stories with technical implications, effort estimation and associated risk.

Journal of Systems and Software

And we obviously view the subsidisation of the production of college graduates as a worthwhile contribution to long-run growth, again, understandably.Yet it's worth thinking about why it's absurd to argue that every state should try to subsidise up a local film industry but not crazy to support local universities.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"This well-written book is a useful and worthwhile contribution to the growth literature.

Princeton University

In this tradition, we are confident that this study constitutes a modest but worthwhile contribution to the decision-making literature.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

We conclude that basic preventive measures against radon in new homes is likely to be a highly cost effective public health intervention measure, with the potential to make a modest but worthwhile contribution to reducing the annual number of deaths from lung cancer in the UK, alongside existing policies to reduce smoking.

British Medical Journal

In what will probably turn out to be his only worthwhile contribution to public affairs, the transport secretary, Stephen Byers, once told a table of journalists that the Labour party should sever official ties with the trade unions.

The Guardian

Today, anyone who suggested that blacks were created as a result of divine amnesia or a malfunction on God's production line would justifiably be accused of inciting racial hatred - as would anyone who suggested that Jews, for example, had made no worthwhile contribution to civilisation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a worthwhile contribution to" when you want to emphasize that an action or effort is valuable and makes a positive impact. It suggests the contribution is not only helpful but also meaningful and significant.

Common error

Avoid using "a worthwhile contribution to" when the actual impact is minimal or insignificant. Ensure the contribution genuinely adds value to the situation or field being discussed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a worthwhile contribution to" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a direct object or subject complement. It highlights the positive impact or value of something added or provided. Ludwig confirms its common and correct usage in expressing beneficial input.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a worthwhile contribution to" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to highlight the positive impact of an action, idea, or effort. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that this phrase appears across various authoritative sources including science, news media and academia. While being mostly neutral to formal, "a worthwhile contribution to" indicates that the contribution is valuable and meaningful. Consider using alternatives like "a valuable addition to" or "a significant input to" for subtle differences in emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure that the contribution is genuinely impactful to avoid overstating its significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a valuable addition to

Replaces 'contribution' with 'addition', emphasizing the act of adding something of value.

a significant input to

Substitutes 'contribution' with 'input', highlighting the role of providing information or resources.

a meaningful impact on

Changes the focus to the impact or effect made, rather than the contribution itself.

a substantial benefit to

Emphasizes the positive outcome or advantage resulting from the contribution.

an important factor in

Shifts the focus to the role of the contribution as a key element within a larger context.

a noteworthy element of

Highlights the contribution as something deserving attention or recognition.

a considerable asset for

Presents the contribution as something that enhances or supports the recipient.

a positive influence on

Focuses on the impact of the contribution, particularly in terms of its effect on something.

a useful component of

Presents the contribution as a practical or functional part of something.

an instrumental part of

Highlights the contribution's role as being crucial or essential to something.

FAQs

How can I use "a worthwhile contribution to" in a sentence?

Use "a worthwhile contribution to" to describe actions or ideas that positively impact a specific area. For example, "Her research was "a worthwhile contribution to" the field of medicine".

What are some alternatives to "a worthwhile contribution to"?

You can use alternatives such as "a valuable addition to", "a significant input to", or "a meaningful impact on" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a worthwhile contribution to" or "a valuable contribution to"?

Both "a worthwhile contribution to" and "a valuable contribution to" are correct. The choice depends on the specific context; "worthwhile" emphasizes the effort's merit, while "valuable" stresses its importance or usefulness.

What's the difference between "a contribution to" and "a worthwhile contribution to"?

"A contribution to" simply indicates that something was added or given. Adding "worthwhile" specifies that the contribution was valuable, meaningful, or had a positive impact. For example, providing funding is "a contribution to", but discovering a cure is ""a worthwhile contribution to"".