decipher the significance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decipher the significance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of interpreting or understanding the meaning or importance of something, such as a text, event, or concept. Example: "In her analysis, she aimed to decipher the significance of the historical events that shaped the nation's identity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The Seattle Times also came up with useful articles entitled "Understanding Turbans" (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/lifestyles/links/turbans) and "Interpreting Veils" (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/nation-world/crisis/theregion) to help readers and browsers of their site decipher the significance of head coverings in the Muslim world and beyond.

Huffington Post

To decipher the significance of platelet monocyte associations under inflammatory or infectious conditions, thioglycollate-induced peritonitis model in mice was utilized.

Cell Death and Disease

To decipher the significance of c-Myc in the Wnt signaling-mediated tumourigenesis and its involvement in p68 gene expression, if any, we have knocked down either β-catenin or c-Myc in HEK293T cells followed by transiently overexpressing Wnt3a.

Breast Cancer Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In summary, to decipher the functional significance of pVHL in the pancreas during development and tumorigenesis, we conditionally inactivated Vhl in distinct pancreatic cell populations and reported the first mouse model of VHL that recapitulates clinical features found in the pancreas of VHL patients.

Plosone

To decipher the functional significance of human p53 Sin3B interaction and to understand the role played by Sin3B in p53-mediated gene regulation upon bleomycin treatment, the recruitment of human Sin3B on to the five selected p53 responsive promoters was investigated.

Bioscience Reports

Unfortunately, the relative ease of genome sequencing does not automatically translate into the expanding of biological knowledge it is still quite difficult to decipher the functional significance of genomic DNA.

Bioinformatics

It helps women decipher the meaning of puzzling text messages.

Huffington Post

They must collect and weigh evidence from a range of sources, correctly decipher and assess the significance of both signs and countersigns, identify the appropriate actions to take, and then summon the courage to take them.

British Medical Journal

As an Australian, he had only a vague grasp of the way the D.N.C. operated, which made deciphering the political significance of the e-mails difficult.

The New Yorker

After November 2004, Myriad chose as it had every legal right to do to stop contributing data to public databases and now holds proprietary data on genetic variants of unknown significance that help decipher the clinical meaning of BRCA tests.

Genetics in Medicine

Deciphering the chronology and the significance of each molecular step of polarized growth is therefore very challenging.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decipher the significance", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being deciphered and why its significance is important. This enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "decipher the significance" in contexts where a simpler phrase like "understand the importance" would suffice. Overusing complex language can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "decipher the significance" is to express an action related to understanding the importance of something. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase typically appears when the meaning is not immediately obvious.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decipher the significance" is a phrase used to describe the act of interpreting and understanding the importance of something. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and most often found in scientific and news-related contexts. While there are simpler alternatives like "understand the importance", this phrase suggests a more complex process of uncovering meaning. When writing, be mindful of using it appropriately to avoid sounding overly verbose or pretentious. Make sure your audience understands what it is you are trying to "decipher the significance" of.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interpret the meaning

Focuses on the meaning rather than the broader significance.

understand the importance

Emphasizes the importance, simplifying the act of deciphering.

determine the relevance

Highlights the relevance or applicability of something.

ascertain the value

Stresses the value assessment rather than a neutral comprehension.

uncover the essence

Focuses on revealing the core nature or underlying truth.

grasp the implications

Highlights the consequential aspect of understanding.

recognize the import

Uses a more formal term ("import") for significance.

decode the deeper meaning

Emphasizes a hidden or non-obvious meaning.

analyze the underlying message

Highlights the message within the matter being deciphered.

appreciate the gravity

Emphasizes the seriousness and weight of the significance.

FAQs

How can I use "decipher the significance" in a sentence?

You can use "decipher the significance" when you want to express the act of interpreting or understanding the importance of something. For example, "Researchers are working to decipher the significance of the new genetic markers."

What can I say instead of "decipher the significance"?

You can use alternatives like "interpret the meaning", "understand the importance", or "determine the relevance" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "decipher the significance" or "understand the significance"?

"Decipher the significance" implies a more complex or obscure meaning that requires effort to uncover, while "understand the significance" is more general. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "decipher the significance" and "read the significance"?

"Decipher the significance" means to interpret or figure out the importance of something, whereas "read the significance" (/s/read+the+significance) isn't a standard or commonly used phrase in English.