be a big help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a big help" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that someone or something will provide significant assistance or support in a situation. Example: "If you could finish this report by tomorrow, it would be a big help to the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will be a big help.

The Guardian - Money

Such a deal would be a big help.

The Economist

It would be a big help on those dark nights".

The New York Times

He's going to be a big help for us.

The New York Times - Sports

"That's going to be a big help," he said.

The New York Times

"This will be a big help in pushing China".

The New York Times

So that's going to be a big help.

The New York Times

"Oh, O.K". "Aaron can still be a big help".

The New Yorker

This new facility will be a big help".

The New York Times

"Well, whatever you remember will be a big help".

The New York Times

She'd be a big help around the house.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be a big help" to express that someone or something will provide considerable assistance or support. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "be a big help" is common, avoid overuse in a single piece of writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "be very helpful" or "provide significant assistance" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a big help" functions primarily as a predicate adjective, describing the subject as being significantly helpful. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is widely used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

13%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science & Research

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be a big help" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that someone or something will provide significant assistance. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and informal conversations. While it is suitable for most situations, more formal alternatives like "provide significant assistance" may be preferred in certain settings. To avoid redundancy, consider varying your language with synonyms to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be very helpful

Uses a different adjective to convey the same meaning of providing assistance.

be a great assistance

Replaces "help" with a more formal noun, "assistance", and "big" with "great".

be of considerable assistance

Emphasizes the significance of the help provided.

provide significant support

Shifts the focus to "support" as the main contribution, highlighting its importance.

be a valuable asset

Highlights the value and benefit someone or something brings to a situation.

be instrumental in

Indicates a crucial role in achieving a particular outcome.

make a significant contribution

Focuses on the act of contributing and its impact.

lend a hand

Uses an idiomatic expression to mean offering help.

be a boon

Conveys the idea of being highly beneficial or advantageous.

offer substantial aid

Replaces "help" with "aid", emphasizing the supportive nature of the assistance.

FAQs

How can I use "be a big help" in a sentence?

You can use "be a big help" to express that someone or something will provide considerable assistance or support. For example, "If you could finish this report by tomorrow, it would "be a big help" to the team."

What can I say instead of "be a big help"?

You can use alternatives like "be very helpful", "provide significant support", or "be a valuable asset depending on the context".

Which is correct, "be a big help" or "be a great help"?

Both "be a big help" and "be a great help" are correct and commonly used. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to convey. They are largely interchangeable in most contexts.

Is "be a big help" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "be a big help" can be suitable for formal writing, although it might be more common in informal contexts. For more formal situations, you might consider alternatives like "provide significant assistance" or "be of considerable assistance".