be very effective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be very effective" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the impact or success of a method, strategy, or action. For example, "The new marketing strategy is expected to be very effective in increasing sales." Alternative expressions include "be highly effective" and "be quite effective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It might be very effective.

The New York Times - Books

He can be very effective down here".

The New York Times

"This can be very effective.

The New York Times

And turns out to be very effective".

The Guardian

Incentives have proven to be very effective tools".

The New York Times

A gentleman can be very effective in business.

The New Yorker

"Chemotherapy can be very effective in these situations".

The New Yorker

"I think I can be very effective," Van Horn said.

The New York Times - Sports

Community-based adaptation (CBA) has proven to be very effective.

The Guardian

Sometimes, yapping can even seem to be very effective.

The New Yorker

"I don't think that begging will be very effective.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with concrete evidence or specific outcomes to strengthen your argument in professional reports.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase with abstract subjects that lack a measurable outcome. For example, saying a 'feeling' is effective is linguistically awkward; effectiveness usually refers to methods, tools, or actions that solve a problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be very effective" functions as a predicative adjective phrase consisting of the linking verb 'be', the intensifier 'very', and the head adjective 'effective'. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often appears as an infinitive following modal verbs (e.g. "can be", "could be", "might be") or as a complement in a complete clause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be very effective" is a highly reliable and versatile linguistic tool used to denote successful outcomes across a wide array of fields. Analysis of Ludwig data reveals that it is particularly prevalent in Scientific research to describe treatment efficacy and in News & Media to evaluate the impact of social or political initiatives. While it is grammatically perfect and common, writers can increase their precision by substituting it with more technical alternatives like "demonstrate high efficacy" in formal papers or more active constructions like "work remarkably well" in narrative contexts. Overall, it remains one of the most standard ways to affirm that a specific method reliably achieves its intended goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be highly effective

Uses a more formal intensifier often preferred in academic or technical writing.

work remarkably well

Shifts the focus from the state of being to the action of functioning correctly.

prove quite successful

Implies that the effectiveness has been demonstrated over time or through testing.

yield strong results

Focuses on the tangible outcomes or data produced by a method.

have a significant impact

Emphasizes the change or influence caused rather than just the internal efficacy.

perform very well

Often used when discussing the efficiency of a system, machine, or person.

be exceptionally potent

Suggests a higher degree of power or strength, often used in medical or chemical contexts.

demonstrate high efficacy

Uses technical terminology most common in clinical trials and scientific research.

be extremely useful

A more practical, everyday alternative that highlights utility.

be quite fruitful

A metaphorical alternative suggesting the production of many good things.

FAQs

How to use "be very effective" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the success of an action, such as "The new policy turned out to "be very effective" in reducing waste".

What can I say instead of "be very effective"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "be highly effective", "work remarkably well", or "prove quite successful".

Is "be very effective" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, it is widely used in journalism and business. However, for scientific papers, "demonstrate high efficacy" is often considered more precise.

What is the difference between "be very effective" and "be very efficient"?

While "be very effective" means producing the desired result, "be very efficient" means producing that result with the least amount of waste or effort.