be irrelevant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be irrelevant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something does not have relevance or importance in a particular context. Example: "The details of the previous project may be irrelevant to our current discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They'll be irrelevant".

Independent

The age might be irrelevant.

The New York Times - Sports

It will be irrelevant".

The New York Times

"Gender should be irrelevant.

The Guardian - Film

A judge's should be irrelevant.

The New York Times

Indeed, it should be irrelevant.

The New York Times

"Otherwise, we will be irrelevant".

The New York Times - Tech

Would such comments be irrelevant?

The Guardian

Not that firepower will be irrelevant.

The New York Times

It's because the questions would be irrelevant.

The New York Times

Why? Obama's race should be irrelevant.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be irrelevant", ensure the context clearly establishes what it is irrelevant to. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "be irrelevant" when something is merely less important, not entirely without value or connection. Consider using phrases like "less relevant" or "of minor importance" for nuanced accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be irrelevant" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject as not pertinent or applicable. Ludwig's examples show its use across diverse subjects, emphasizing a lack of connection or importance in given contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be irrelevant" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something lacks importance or applicability in a particular context. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears frequently in news and media, reflecting its widespread use in assessing the pertinence of information. While highly versatile, effective use hinges on clearly specifying to what something is irrelevant. It is important to avoid overstating irrelevance when something is merely less important. Alternative phrases, like "be immaterial" or "be unimportant", offer similar meanings but may better suit certain nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be immaterial

Emphasizes the lack of consequence or importance.

be inconsequential

Highlights the lack of significance or impact.

be unimportant

Directly states the lack of importance.

be beside the point

Indicates a deviation from the main issue.

be of no account

Highlights worthlessness or insignificance.

be negligible

Indicates a small or insignificant impact.

be extraneous

Implies not belonging or being pertinent.

be inapplicable

Highlights the lack of relevance or suitability.

be beside the question

Indicates something not being relevant to the question at hand.

be of little consequence

Emphasizes the minimal importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "be irrelevant" in a sentence?

You can use "be irrelevant" to indicate that something is not related, applicable, or important to a particular situation or discussion. For example, "Those details will "be irrelevant" to our decision."

What can I say instead of "be irrelevant"?

You can use alternatives like "be unimportant", "be immaterial", or "be inconsequential" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is irrelevant" or "be irrelevant"?

Both "is irrelevant" and "be irrelevant" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Is irrelevant" is used to state a fact about something in the present, while "be irrelevant" is often used in conditional or future statements.

What's the difference between "be irrelevant" and "be insignificant"?

"Be irrelevant" means not connected or applicable to the matter at hand, while "be insignificant" means lacking in importance or consequence. Something can "be insignificant" but still relevant, and something relevant can "be irrelevant" in a specific scenario.