an important advantage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an important advantage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant benefit or positive aspect of a situation, product, or decision. Example: "One important advantage of using renewable energy sources is their positive impact on the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This time, however, they have an important advantage.

The New York Times

This, he said, gave his unit an important advantage.

The New York Times

"Being able to work across borders is an important advantage".

The New York Times

It has an important advantage, of course: English is the language of science.

The Guardian

This is an important advantage over the "one factor at a time" approach.

Harvard Business Review

But plug-in hybrids offer longer range, an important advantage for single-car owners.

MIT Technology Review

In a market where lending approval can take days, that's an important advantage.

The Times

We encouraged him to view his analytic skills as giving him an important advantage.

Harvard Business Review

Therefore software reuse is an important advantage of our proposed approach.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

"That at least initially gave him an important advantage in using this tool".

The New York Times

And some small-reactor designs have an important advantage over bigger reactors.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When highlighting "an important advantage", be specific about the context and explain why it is significant. Quantify the advantage whenever possible to increase impact.

Common error

Avoid using "an important advantage" to describe trivial or marginal benefits. Ensure the advantage truly offers a substantial improvement or unique capability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an important advantage" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object in a sentence. According to Ludwig, it is often used to highlight a notable benefit or positive attribute. The adjective "important" modifies the noun "advantage", emphasizing its significance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an important advantage" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to highlight a significant benefit or positive aspect. According to Ludwig, it is versatile and appears frequently in various contexts, especially science, news, and formal business settings. While generally neutral to professional in register, it is essential to ensure the "advantage" truly warrants the emphasis, avoiding overstatement or misapplication. Consider alternatives like "a significant benefit" or "a key asset" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant benefit

Replaces "advantage" with "benefit" and "important" with "significant", focusing on the positive outcome.

a valuable asset

Synonymous with "a key asset", but uses "valuable" to emphasize worth.

a key asset

Substitutes "advantage" with "asset", emphasizing the value and resource aspect.

a crucial strength

Uses "strength" instead of "advantage", highlighting the element of power and resilience.

a primary strength

Emphasizes the fundamental and robust nature of the advantage.

a considerable edge

Replaces "advantage" with "edge", suggesting a competitive superiority.

a strategic asset

Highlights the planned and tactical nature of the advantage.

a notable merit

Employs "merit" in place of "advantage", underscoring the deserving quality.

a decisive factor

Shifts the focus to the influence of the advantage, framing it as a determinant.

a major plus

An informal alternative emphasizing the positive aspect.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "an important advantage" in a sentence?

You can replace "an important advantage" with phrases like "a significant benefit", "a key asset", or "a crucial strength" depending on the context.

What makes "an important advantage" different from "a slight edge"?

"An important advantage" suggests a considerable and impactful benefit, whereas "a slight edge" implies a small, possibly insignificant, advantage.

Is it better to say "important advantage" or "significant advantage"?

Both "important advantage" and "significant advantage" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice often depends on personal preference, although "significant advantage" might sound slightly more formal.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "an important advantage"?

It's inappropriate to use "an important advantage" when the benefit being described is minor, irrelevant, or overstated. Ensure the advantage genuinely offers a notable improvement.