crucial difference

USAGE SUMMARY

"crucial difference" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in a sentence when describing a significant or important distinction between two things or ideas. Example: The crucial difference between the two proposals lies in their approach to environmental sustainability.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But there's a crucial difference.

The New York Times

That is a crucial difference.

The Economist

There is another crucial difference.

The New York Times - Arts

That is the crucial difference".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Still, there's a crucial difference.

The New Yorker

But there was a crucial difference.

The New Yorker

But there is one crucial difference.

The Economist

But there is a crucial difference.

Independent

But then comes the crucial difference.

The New York Times

There's a crucial difference here, though.

The New Yorker

But there was one crucial difference: people.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crucial difference" to emphasize the most important distinction when comparing two or more elements. It adds weight to your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "crucial difference" for minor distinctions. Reserve it for truly significant and impactful differences to maintain its emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crucial difference" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in written English. It denotes a significant distinction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crucial difference" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression used to highlight a significant distinction between two or more things. Ludwig AI validates this, showing its prevalence across various domains. Its usage is particularly frequent in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" contexts. When writing, reserve this phrase for truly significant differences to maintain its impact, and consider alternatives like "essential distinction" or "key distinction" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential distinction

Replaces "difference" with "distinction" and "crucial" with "essential", emphasizing the fundamental nature of the difference.

key distinction

Substitutes "crucial" with "key", highlighting the importance of the distinction.

significant difference

Replaces "crucial" with "significant", indicating a notable distinction.

vital distinction

Replaces "crucial" with "vital", stressing the importance and necessity of the difference.

important distinction

Uses "important" instead of "crucial", denoting a noteworthy difference.

the most important difference

Adds emphasis by specifying that it is the most important difference.

major difference

Replaces "crucial" with "major", implying a substantial and impactful difference.

fundamental difference

Highlights the basic and essential nature of the difference.

critical difference

Substitutes "crucial" with "critical", signifying the importance and potential impact of the difference.

primary difference

Focuses on the main and initial difference between two things.

FAQs

How can I use "crucial difference" in a sentence?

Use "crucial difference" to highlight a key distinction between two or more things. For example, "The "crucial difference" between these approaches lies in their long-term sustainability."

What can I say instead of "crucial difference"?

You can use alternatives like "essential distinction", "key distinction", or "significant difference" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "very crucial difference"?

Yes, using "very" before "crucial" is generally redundant. "Crucial" already implies a high degree of importance, so adding "very" doesn't add extra emphasis.

What's the difference between "crucial difference" and "important difference"?

While both indicate a notable distinction, ""crucial difference"" suggests that the distinction is essential and potentially decisive, whereas "important difference" simply means the distinction is noteworthy.