be less significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be less significant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the relative importance or impact of something in comparison to another. Example: "In the grand scheme of things, these minor details may be less significant than the overall outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Educational level appears to be less significant, and occupation shows no significance at all.

Energy Economics

Westgate, too, is Israeli owned, but this may be less significant than it might appear.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the environmental benefits may be less significant than the process that produced the agreement.

The New York Times

However, once again, the drop was seen to be less significant up to 10% cement substitutions.

Construction and Building Materials

Surprisingly, population density was found to be less significant in influencing health risk indicators.

Environmental Pollution

However, the interaction of flow-rate with temperature or concentration was found to be less significant.

Journal of Membrane Science

The action of the story turns out to be less significant than the manner of its telling.

The New York Times - Books

But the inadequate living wills suggest that these two problems may be less significant than another, larger one.

The New Yorker

Plank claims that it could become Under Armour's defining product, although his optimism may be less significant than his stubbornness.

The New Yorker

Pay and career progression, for example, was found to be less significant in terms of motivation than many might imagine.

The Guardian

One analyst predicted that gasoline prices could rise sharply, but others said the impact would be less significant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be less significant" to clearly indicate a reduced level of importance or impact, ensuring clarity in comparative assessments.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the lack of significance. Ensure the statement aligns with the actual context to prevent misleading interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be less significant" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It serves to describe the relative importance or impact of one thing compared to another. Ludwig examples show it's used to downplay a factor or variable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be less significant" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate that something holds a lower level of importance or impact relative to something else. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is widely used across various fields, including science, news, and media, to make comparisons and prioritize different factors. While alternatives like ""be of minor importance"" or ""pale in comparison"" offer similar meanings, it's crucial to use the phrase accurately to avoid exaggerating or misrepresenting the insignificance of something. Overall, "be less significant" is a valuable tool for clearly communicating relative importance in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be of minor importance

Focuses on the reduced level of importance.

be of secondary importance

Highlights that the significance is not primary.

be of reduced importance

Emphasizes the decrease in importance.

be of diminished significance

Indicates a weakening of the significance.

be of lesser consequence

Replaces "significance" with "consequence", implying a lighter impact.

be not as crucial

Uses "crucial" to convey the idea of importance, then negates it.

be relatively unimportant

Directly states the lack of importance in relative terms.

be not as vital

Employs "vital" as a synonym for "significant", then negates it.

pale in comparison

Uses a metaphorical expression to show reduced significance when compared to something else.

take a back seat

Indicates that something is moved to a less prominent position.

FAQs

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

You can use "be less significant" to compare the importance of two or more things. For example, "The cost may "be less significant" than the environmental impact."

What are some alternatives to "be less significant"?

Alternatives include "be of minor importance", "be relatively unimportant", or "pale in comparison" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "be less significant" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to downplay the importance of something in relation to something else. It's useful in analyses, comparisons, and evaluations where you need to prioritize certain factors over others.

What's the difference between "be less significant" and "be insignificant"?

"Be less significant" implies a comparative lack of importance, while "be insignificant" suggests a complete lack of importance. The former acknowledges some level of impact, however small, whereas the latter denies any meaningful effect.