came into play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "came into play" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the moment when something becomes relevant or important in a given situation. For example, "Once the economy began to falter, the importance of careful budgeting came into play."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

10 spin came into play".

The New Yorker

Practical reasons also came into play.

The New York Times - Arts

Other considerations then came into play.

The New York Times

Again, the crane came into play.

The New York Times

So governments came into play.

The Guardian - Tech

Other factors came into play.

The New York Times

Internal politics also came into play.

The Washington Post

A new market extremism came into play.

The Guardian - Opinion

Strange environmental factors came into play.

The New Yorker

Technology came into play in some rescues.

The New York Times - Travel

Her other gifts came into play later.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came into play" when describing the moment a previously unimportant factor starts significantly influencing a situation or decision.

Common error

Avoid using "came into play" when describing something that was already an active factor. It's best suited for elements that newly influence the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came into play" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the moment when something becomes an active or influential factor in a particular situation. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

10%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "came into play" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to describe when something becomes relevant or influential in a situation, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's suitable for various contexts, with high frequency in News & Media. When using the phrase, consider alternatives like "became a factor" or "started to matter" for nuanced meanings. Remember to reserve it for factors that newly influence a situation. In conclusion, "came into play" is a versatile phrase. Ludwig confirms its correctness and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became relevant

Focuses on the pertinence of something to the current situation.

entered the equation

Implies that something is now part of a calculation or consideration.

became a factor

Focuses on the element becoming one of several considerations.

turned into a consideration

Highlights a transformation into an item of thought or importance.

started to weigh in

Indicates the beginning of something's influence or impact.

began to influence

Emphasizes the start of having an effect on something.

emerged as significant

Emphasizes the appearance of something important.

started to matter

Highlights the increasing importance of something.

rose to prominence

Stresses the gaining of importance or fame.

took effect

Indicates when a rule, law, or change begins to be applied.

FAQs

How can I use "came into play" in a sentence?

You can use "came into play" to describe when a particular factor or element becomes relevant or influential in a situation. For example, "Once the rain started, the slippery conditions "came into play"."

What can I say instead of "came into play"?

You can use alternatives like "became a factor", "began to influence", or "started to matter" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "came into effect" instead of "came into play"?

"Came into effect" and "came into play" are similar but have different connotations. "Came into effect" usually refers to a law, rule, or agreement, whereas "came into play" refers to a factor or influence. For example, "The new law "came into effect"" versus "Her experience "came into play" during the negotiations."

What's the difference between "came into play" and "became relevant"?

While both phrases indicate something is now important, "became relevant" simply means something is pertinent. "Came into play" suggests that the element is now actively influencing the situation. They are very similar but "came into play" conveys greater agency.