be highly influential

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be highly influential" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing someone or something that has a significant impact or effect on others. For example: "Her research is expected to be highly influential in the field of environmental science." Alternative expressions include "be very impactful" and "have a strong influence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The report's findings are not binding, but they are expected to be highly influential.

The New York Times

Our results will be highly influential in the future management of M. margaritifera in Northern Ireland.

Biological Conservation

Ashley's stake remains at 8.92% but he is widely regarded to be highly influential at the beleaguered Scottish club.

The Guardian - Sport

The distance of the reinforcement to the neutral axis was shown to be highly influential on the mechanical enhancements.

Composites Part B: Engineering

Although veterinarians provide advice and support to smallholders, only 14.5% considered themselves to be highly influential on smallholder practices.

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

How the governments vying to become new financial services hubs for China in Europe negotiate with China will be highly influential on the outcome.

Columbia University

Momentum was thought to be highly influential in the result of the ballot because it emailed members to recommend four topics that were chosen.

The Guardian

Results of the study indicate that nursing students perceive availability, approachability and feedback from the clinical facilitator to be highly influential to their learning in the clinical setting.

Nurse Education in Practice

The film was considered a relative box-office flop on its release but proved to be a huge success when released on video, and its futuristic urban imagery is now considered to be highly influential.

The Guardian - Film

As researchers who stay close to policy and policymakers, think tanks might be little known amongst the public but they can be highly influential in shaping the terms of public debate and providing policy solutions to social problems.

The Guardian

In a statement, Sarah Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the mayor — whose endorsement could be highly influential in deciding the building's fate — said Mr. Emanuel was still "hearing from all sides".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with prepositions like "in", "on" or "over" depending on whether you are describing a field, a specific target or a general environment

Common error

Do not combine "highly" with other absolute modifiers like "most" or "extremely" in a single phrase (e.g. "be the most highly influential"). This can create clunky sentences. Instead, let the adverb "highly" stand on its own or use a superlative like "be the most influential" if that is the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as a predicative adjective phrase comprising the linking verb "to be", the intensifying adverb "highly" and the head adjective "influential". In many instances found in Ludwig, it is preceded by modal verbs like "will" or "can" to denote predictive impact or potentiality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be highly influential" is an essential tool for writers who need to convey substantial impact with professional poise. According to Ludwig AI, it is most at home in scientific and academic discourse, where it identifies critical variables, and in cultural journalism to describe transformative figures. The combination of the adverb "highly" with "influential" provides a more elevated and authoritative tone than the more common "very". When using it, ensure you select the appropriate preposition to follow, as this clarifies whether the influence is directed toward a person, a group or an abstract field of study. Overall, it is a versatile and correct expression for high-stakes writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

carry significant weight

Uses a metaphor of weight to emphasize the gravity or importance of the influence

be instrumental

Suggests that the subject is a necessary tool or means in achieving an outcome

have a profound impact

Shifts focus from the quality of the subject to the depth of the resulting effect

exert great influence

More active phrasing that implies the deliberate application of power

be a key driver

Common in business and scientific contexts to denote a primary causal factor

be highly impactful

A more modern and direct alternative often used in corporate and social sectors

play a pivotal role

Focuses on the subject's position as a central point upon which an outcome turns

be highly consequential

Emphasizes the significance of the results or consequences following the influence

be of major importance

A broader description that situates the influence within a hierarchy of significance

possess considerable clout

Informal to semi-formal; highlights the social or political power behind the influence

FAQs

How to use "be highly influential" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe people, research, or events that change a situation. For example, "The early works of David Bowie proved to be highly influential on the synth-pop genre."

What can I say instead of "be highly influential"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/exert+great+influence" target="_blank" rel="alternative">exert great influence", "<a href="/s/have+a+profound+impact" target="_blank" rel="alternative">have a profound impact" or "<a href="/s/be+instrumental" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be instrumental" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "be highly influential on" or "in"?

Both are correct but used differently. Use "in" for fields or processes (e.g., "influential in the outcome") and "on" for specific targets or people (e.g., "influential on his peers").

What is the difference between "be highly influential" and "be very influential"?

While both are similar, "<a href="/s/be+highly+influential" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be highly influential" is generally considered more formal and academic than "<a href="/s/be+very+influential" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be very influential", which is more common in casual conversation.