be a significant issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be a significant issue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a problem or concern that has considerable importance or impact in a given context. Example: "The lack of funding for education can be a significant issue that affects the quality of learning for students."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Whatever Congress does or fails to do, health care will be a significant issue in this year's presidential campaign.

The New York Times - Health

My reading is that it could be a significant issue in some states, but it's unlikely to be decisive.

The New Yorker

Officials say they do not expect sales from outside England and Wales via the internet to be a significant issue but will keep it under review.

The Guardian

"The court's decision to preclude all mention of the risks of other diet drugs in this case will be a significant issue on appeal," Mr. Sims said.

The New York Times

"We have no idea how this plays out but believe 'Twitter risk' for defense companies could be a significant issue over the next four years," Schweizer wrote.

The Guardian

Still, the 2012 version of the G.M. meetings might indeed create some buzz, with instant replay likely to be a significant issue this week.

The New York Times - Sports

"Clearly pensions have continued to be a significant issue for General Motors," said Dan Ammann, G.M.'s chief financial officer, in a conference call with reporters.

The New York Times

Given the laundry list of items that both sides are likely to argue for as the deadline approaches, the Bryant loophole is unlikely to be a significant issue, lawyers and agents said.

The New Yorker

Public safety will be a significant issue" (Zhang 2015).

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Therefore, we think that multicollinearity may not be a significant issue in our study.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"It's a significant issue".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be a significant issue" to introduce a topic that requires attention, discussion, or action due to its importance or potential consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "be a significant issue" for minor or trivial matters. Reserve it for situations where the impact is genuinely substantial, and be ready to back up your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be a significant issue" functions as a predicate nominative, identifying the subject as a noteworthy problem or concern. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

28%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be a significant issue" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the importance of a problem or topic. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates that it is grammatically sound and frequently employed across diverse contexts, including science, news, and business. While it's essential to ensure the issue genuinely warrants such emphasis, using "be a significant issue" effectively highlights the need for consideration and potential action. Alternatives like "be a major concern" or "be a serious problem" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be a major concern

Replaces 'significant issue' with 'major concern', emphasizing worry.

be a serious problem

Substitutes 'significant issue' with 'serious problem', highlighting severity.

be a key challenge

Replaces 'significant issue' with 'key challenge', focusing on the difficulty involved.

be a critical matter

Substitutes 'significant issue' with 'critical matter', underscoring urgency.

be a paramount question

Replaces 'significant issue' with 'paramount question', emphasizing its importance.

pose a substantial difficulty

Rephrases 'be a significant issue' as 'pose a substantial difficulty', highlighting the obstacle it presents.

constitute a noteworthy problem

Replaces 'be a significant issue' with 'constitute a noteworthy problem', emphasizing its visibility.

represent a considerable obstacle

Rephrases 'be a significant issue' as 'represent a considerable obstacle', focusing on hindrance.

emerge as a prominent question

Focuses on the idea that the question has become noticeable or stands out from the rest, replacing 'significant issue'.

prove to be a weighty question

Highlights the burden or complexity the question brings, instead of being only a 'significant issue'.

FAQs

How can I use "be a significant issue" in a sentence?

You can use "be a significant issue" to introduce a topic or problem that is important or has a substantial impact. For example, "Climate change will "be a significant issue" for future generations."

What are some alternatives to "be a significant issue"?

Alternatives include "be a major concern", "be a serious problem", or "be a key challenge". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "be a significant issue"?

While grammatically correct, "be a significant issue" should be used when the issue truly warrants attention due to its potential impact or importance. Overusing it can dilute its impact.

What's the difference between "be a significant issue" and "be a major issue"?

While similar, "be a significant issue" implies importance and consequence, while "be a major issue" suggests greater size or scope. Both are correct, but the choice depends on the specific aspect you want to emphasize.