breakthrough in itself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breakthrough in itself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that the breakthrough is significant or noteworthy on its own, without needing additional context or validation. Example: "The discovery of a new treatment for the disease is a breakthrough in itself, regardless of its potential applications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That the meeting is taking place at all is a breakthrough in itself.

The Guardian

In Taiwan's fractious political environment, Mr Chen's tacit endorsement of the opposition's overtures to China is a breakthrough in itself.

The Economist

It was a diplomatic breakthrough in itself to have Ahmed Mahamound Silanyo, the Somaliland president, present at last week's meeting.

The Guardian

While scientists have not yet found a cure for the failure gene, they consider isolating it a major breakthrough in itself.

The New Yorker

Even so, the realization among the party fathers that Americans have grown uncomfortable with unremitting whiteness is a breakthrough in itself.

The New York Times

That said, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's outburst at the UN general assembly, where she called the NSA's spying among other things—a "breach of international law" could be a breakthrough in itself.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Mr Obama's suggestion that the two sides' "breakthrough in understanding" is itself significant would appear to be an admission: that actual progress has been limited.Still, setting aside the demands of India's excitable media, in general the expectations had not been high that Mr Obama and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, could quickly transform bilateral ties.

The Economist

That a technology (email) that has been around for 40 years is held up as a breakthrough, in and of itself, is a statement.

TechCrunch

Although there is no change to the top three so far, the SNP's breakthrough manifests itself in a sharp rise in the proportion of female MPs in Scotland.

BBC

"A meeting like this doesn't signify in itself a breakthrough".

The New York Times

The breakthrough in Normandy.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "breakthrough in itself" to underscore that an accomplishment is significant and valuable, even without further developments or implications. For instance, "Securing initial funding was a "breakthrough in itself", providing much-needed momentum to the project."

Common error

Avoid using "breakthrough in itself" when the achievement is clearly a stepping stone to a larger goal and not a significant accomplishment on its own. Make sure that the achievement is self-contained. If further achievements are required, it's safer to say "a step forward" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breakthrough in itself" functions as a noun phrase that emphasizes the intrinsic value or significance of a particular achievement. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It highlights that the breakthrough is noteworthy on its own.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breakthrough in itself" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, primarily found in news and media contexts, used to emphasize the inherent significance of a particular achievement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate to highlight that a breakthrough is noteworthy and valuable on its own. It is recommended to use this phrase when you want to underscore that an accomplishment is significant and self-contained. Avoid using the phrase if the achievement is merely a stepping stone towards a larger goal and lacks independent importance. Consider using alternative phrases like "significant development on its own" or "remarkable advance by itself" to convey a similar meaning while varying your writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant development on its own

Replaces "breakthrough" with "significant development", focusing on the importance of the progress made.

notable achievement in its own right

Highlights the accomplishment as being worthy of recognition without external validation.

remarkable advance by itself

Emphasizes the exceptional nature of the progress achieved independently.

substantial leap forward independently

Focuses on the magnitude of the progress and its self-reliant nature.

considerable progress in isolation

Highlights that the progress was achieved separately from other factors.

important milestone intrinsically

Indicates that the milestone is significant due to its inherent qualities.

valuable gain autonomously

Emphasizes that the gain is precious and was achieved independently.

meaningful step forward unaided

Focuses on the importance of the step forward and its unassisted nature.

stand-alone landmark achievement

Highlights the independent nature of the landmark achievement.

self-contained notable success

Emphasizes that the success is complete and noteworthy on its own.

FAQs

How can "breakthrough in itself" be used in a sentence?

You can use "breakthrough in itself" to highlight that a particular achievement or progress is significant or noteworthy on its own. For example, "The discovery of a new treatment for the disease is a "breakthrough in itself", regardless of its potential applications."

What phrases are similar to "breakthrough in itself"?

Similar phrases include "significant development on its own", "notable achievement in its own right", or "remarkable advance by itself".

Is "breakthrough in itself" grammatically correct?

Yes, "breakthrough in itself" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to emphasize the importance of an achievement without needing further context.

In what contexts is "breakthrough in itself" typically used?

The phrase is often used in news articles and reports to describe a significant development in various fields, such as science, politics, or technology. It's suited for any situation where an accomplishment holds intrinsic value.