be a major factor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a major factor" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the significance or influence of something in a particular context or situation. Example: "The economy will be a major factor in determining the outcome of the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Will pension reform be a major factor?

Independent

Iran would also be a major factor.

The New Yorker

"The turnout will be a major factor.

The Guardian

Money would be a major factor in a Vaughn deal.

The New York Times - Sports

It will be a major factor — perhaps the major factor.

The New York Times

It will be a major factor in how they vote".

The New York Times

"I think it will be a major factor at Macworld.

The Guardian - Tech

Look for Price to be a major factor.

The New York Times

His family would be a major factor in any decision.

The New York Times - Sports

"It would not have an internal security mission or be a major factor in domestic politics.

The New York Times

Peer pressure seems to be a major factor in leading this 17-year-old into crime.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overusing the phrase in close proximity within your writing. Vary your language by incorporating synonyms like "play a significant role" or "be a key element" to maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Be careful not to exaggerate the influence of a factor without sufficient evidence. Ensure your claims are supported by data or logical reasoning to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a major factor" functions as a predicate nominative, identifying something as a significant influence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used to highlight importance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be a major factor" is a versatile phrase used to underscore the significant impact or influence of something. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse sources. While highly prevalent in News & Media, it is also found in Science and Business contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to provide specific details to reinforce its impact and avoid overstating the importance of a factor without evidence. Consider alternative phrases like "play a significant role" or "be a key element" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

play a significant role

Replaces "be" with "play" and "major factor" with "significant role", focusing on the action of influencing.

be a key element

Substitutes "major factor" with "key element", emphasizing importance.

be a primary driver

Replaces "major factor" with "primary driver", highlighting the driving force behind something.

be a central component

Uses "central component" instead of "major factor", stressing the core part of something.

be a critical aspect

Replaces "major factor" with "critical aspect", focusing on the essential nature.

exert a strong influence

Shifts from being a factor to exerting influence, changing the verb and noun.

weigh heavily on

Emphasizes the impact or burden, changing the structure and vocabulary.

figure prominently in

Replaces "be a major factor" with "figure prominently in", indicating noticeable presence and importance.

be instrumental in

Suggests a crucial role in enabling or achieving something.

have a decisive impact

Focuses on the concluding or determining effect, modifying the tone slightly.

FAQs

How can I use "be a major factor" in a sentence?

You can use "be a major factor" to describe something that significantly influences an outcome or situation. For example, "Economic policy will "be a major factor" in the next election."

What can I say instead of "be a major factor"?

You can use alternatives like "play a significant role", "be a key element", or "be a primary driver" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "be a major contributing factor"?

While "contributing factor" already implies significance, using "major" can emphasize the degree of influence. However, be mindful of potential redundancy and consider whether "be a key element" or "play a significant role" might be more concise.

How does "be a major factor" differ from "be a contributing factor"?

"Be a major factor" implies a greater degree of influence or importance compared to "be a contributing factor". A contributing factor plays a part, while a major factor has a substantial impact on the outcome. The degree is the major difference between both.