breakthroughs

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "breakthroughs" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "breakthroughs" to refer to a major advance or accomplishment in a particular area. For example, "Recent medical breakthroughs have changed the way doctors treat cancer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While it has a close relationship with Indiana's capital city, college sports have been at the forefront of several breakthroughs for gay rights in the last two years, and the young adults and college students the NCAA represents have generally been supportive of those changes.

The Guardian - Sport

Survival rates for other cancers, including breast, bowel and prostate, have gained ground after breakthroughs in detection, treatment and prevention.

The Guardian

Together, we will multiply our efforts to drive capital flow and reduce carbon by achieving industry-changing impact and international headlines that promote the breakthroughs and the pioneers achieving them," said Jules Kortenhorst, who will serve as chief executive officer of the new organisation.

The Guardian

"You need to be able to ask questions and keep an open mind, or you won't get the breakthroughs," she says.

The Guardian - Money

The burgeoning field of smart cities and the Energy 3.0 era will be made possible by two technological breakthroughs, close to root of the concept of "internet of things": more efficient and miniaturised sensors and networks that interconnect all objects to one another.

The Guardian

Instead, the most dramatic breakthroughs have been with drugs such as Ritalin, Zoloft and Prozac – all of which, Graeber writes, are "tailor-made, one might say, so that these new professional demands don't drive us completely, dysfunctionally, crazy".

The Guardian - Books

"The Elders have made big breakthroughs on conflict resolution, although it is true they have also suffered failures," he says.

The Guardian

After 50 performances of a Shakespeare play I've noticed that real breakthroughs can occur.

The Guardian

"His policy positions aren't breakthroughs, not particularly new or exciting.

The Guardian

By coupling MSR's major research breakthroughs in the use of DNNs with the large datasets provided by Bing's massive index, the DNNs were able to learn more quickly and help Bing voice capabilities get noticeably closer to the way humans recognize speech".

The Guardian - Tech

The view in Davos was that most Internet stocks were grossly overvalued; on the other hand, breakthroughs in information technology have reduced costs, and are raising productivity throughout the economy.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing scientific or technological fields, use "breakthroughs" to highlight significant advancements that have the potential to revolutionize the area.

Common error

Avoid using "breakthroughs" to describe incremental improvements or routine progress. Reserve it for truly significant and transformative achievements to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The word "breakthroughs" functions primarily as a noun, referring to significant advances or discoveries. It often appears as the subject or object of a sentence, highlighting achievements as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "breakthroughs" refers to significant advancements or discoveries, frequently appearing in news, scientific, and business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. To maintain precision, reserve "breakthroughs" for truly transformative achievements, rather than minor improvements. Semantically related phrases include "significant advances" and "major discoveries". By understanding its function and communicative purpose, you can effectively use "breakthroughs" in your writing to highlight meaningful progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant advances

Emphasizes the importance and scale of the progress made.

major discoveries

Focuses on the act of finding or uncovering new knowledge.

groundbreaking innovations

Highlights the novelty and transformative nature of the advancements.

pivotal developments

Stresses the crucial and decisive nature of the changes.

transformative achievements

Highlights how the advancements lead to significant changes and accomplishments.

radical innovations

Indicates innovations that are significantly different from existing approaches.

landmark achievements

Highlights achievements of historical importance or significance.

revolutionary changes

Emphasizes the dramatic and far-reaching impact of the changes.

game-changing advancements

Focuses on advancements that fundamentally alter the landscape or rules in a particular field.

remarkable progress

Highlights the notable and impressive nature of the progress achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "breakthroughs" in a sentence?

You can use "breakthroughs" to refer to significant advancements or discoveries in a particular field. For example, "Recent medical breakthroughs have improved cancer treatment."

What are some alternatives to using "breakthroughs"?

You can use alternatives like "significant advances", "major discoveries", or "groundbreaking innovations" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "breakthroughs" and "advances"?

"Breakthroughs" typically refer to more significant and transformative changes, while "advances" can refer to more incremental progress. Breakthroughs often imply a radical departure from previous methods or understandings.

When is it appropriate to use "breakthroughs" in writing?

Use "breakthroughs" when describing substantial achievements or discoveries that have a major impact on a field, industry, or society. Avoid using it for minor or routine improvements.