be significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be significant" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean that something is important, has meaning, or carries weight. Example sentence: His contribution to the project was found to be significant.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They can be significant.

The New York Times

This may be significant.

The Economist

That could be significant.

The New York Times - Arts

Could this be significant?

The New York Times - Sports

The difference could be significant.

The Economist

And this would be significant.

Independent

The consequences could be significant.

The New York Times

Those costs can be significant.

The New York Times

Even this would be significant.

Independent

The savings will be significant.

The Economist

Going cleanshaven would be significant.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be significant" when you want to emphasize the importance, impact, or relevance of something. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing a clear and direct way to convey that something matters.

Common error

Avoid using "be significant" in overly simple sentences where a more direct adjective like "important", "essential", or "critical" might be more impactful. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be significant" functions primarily as a predicate adjective, describing a quality or state of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it often appears after auxiliary verbs like "can", "could", "will", or "would" to express possibility or conditionality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be significant" is a versatile and commonly used expression that conveys the importance, impact, or relevance of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently across various sources, particularly in the News & Media sector. While it is generally neutral in register, it is crucial to avoid overuse in overly simple sentences. Alternatives such as "hold importance" or "carry weight" can provide variety and nuance. In essence, "be significant" is a reliable tool for emphasizing importance in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold importance

This alternative focuses on the inherent value or relevance of something.

carry weight

This suggests that something has influence or consequence.

matter greatly

This emphasizes the degree of importance.

prove crucial

This highlights something's decisive or critical role.

make a difference

This focuses on the impact or effect that something has.

have consequence

This suggests that actions or events have repercussions.

bear relevance

This emphasizes the connection or applicability of something to a particular situation.

possess value

This highlights the worth or merit of something.

be of account

This indicates that something is worthy of consideration or attention.

represent importance

This signifies the meaning that something transmits.

FAQs

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

You can use "be significant" to emphasize the importance or impact of something. For example: "The results of this study could "be significant" for future research."

What are some alternatives to "be significant"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "hold importance", "carry weight", or "matter greatly", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "is significant" or "be significant"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Is significant" is used when you're stating a fact about something, while "be significant" is used in contexts where you're discussing a potential or conditional outcome. For example, "The difference is significant" versus "The difference could "be significant"".

What does it mean when something is said to "be significant"?

When something is said to "be significant", it means it is important, noteworthy, or has a considerable impact. It implies that the subject in question should be given attention or consideration.