decisive roles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decisive roles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe significant or critical positions or functions that have a major impact on an outcome or situation. Example: "In the success of the project, several team members played decisive roles in shaping the final product."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These pathways play decisive roles in cell fate decision in response to inflammation and infection.

BMC Systems Biology

In addition, decisive roles required of designers in designing out waste remains inadequately addressed.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Personal power struggles have played decisive roles before in determining the committee size.

The New York Times

Enrique Peña Nieto, now the president-elect, provided a fresh face on the podium, obscuring the fact that the old-guard retains decisive roles behind the scenes.

University of California, Berkeley

They played decisive roles, Mr. Magnuson as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Mr. Jackson as an expert in armed services issues.

The New York Times

Sixt, M. et al. Endothelial cell laminin isoforms, laminins 8 and 10, play decisive roles in T cell recruitment across the blood-brain barrier in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Nature

Despite a history going back ages, and despite occasional grim successes, germ weapons have never played decisive roles in warfare or terrorism.

The New York Times

Even so, the findings are expected to encourage scientists to investigate other genes that have decisive roles in making us distinctively human.

The New York Times

Since cancer metastasis is the main cause of cancer patients' deaths, antimetastatic treatment studies should play decisive roles for elongation of cancer patients' survival.

Personalized Cancer Chemotherapy An Effective Way of Enhancing Outcomes in Clinics

Local factors, such as GIC and soil grain size, play decisive roles in determining the consequences of near-surface permafrost degradation.

Nature

Sensitive analysis showed that membrane parameters including flux, price and lifetime play decisive roles in determining the total life cycle costs of the SAnMBR.

Desalination

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of individuals or elements in a process, use "decisive roles" to highlight their crucial influence on the outcome. It adds a layer of importance beyond simply saying they were involved.

Common error

Avoid using "decisive roles" when describing minor or insignificant contributions. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing sound hyperbolic. Reserve it for situations where the influence is truly substantial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decisive roles" functions as a noun phrase that modifies another noun, emphasizing the significance or impact of particular positions or functions. It indicates that these roles are crucial in determining the outcome or influencing a situation, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decisive roles" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote significant positions or functions that greatly influence an outcome. Ludwig AI shows that it appears most commonly in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While the phrase is versatile, it's best reserved for situations where the influence is truly substantial. Alternatives like "critical roles" or "pivotal roles" offer similar meanings, but the choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical roles

Emphasizes the essential nature of the roles, highlighting their importance for success.

pivotal roles

Highlights the turning-point significance of the roles, suggesting they can change outcomes.

essential roles

Underscores the necessity of the roles, indicating they are indispensable.

key roles

Focuses on the importance of the roles, indicating they are central to the process.

significant roles

Highlights the notable impact of the roles, suggesting they are worthy of attention.

major roles

Indicates the large-scale influence of the roles, implying they have widespread effects.

central roles

Emphasizes the position of the roles as a core component within a larger structure or process.

instrumental roles

Shows the causal effect of the roles, emphasizing that they are helpful in causing something to happen.

influential positions

Changes the focus from 'roles' to 'positions' but keeps the meaning and emphasizes the ability to affect events.

determinative functions

Switches from 'roles' to 'functions', highlighting that they serve in determining outcomes.

FAQs

How can I use "decisive roles" in a sentence?

You can use "decisive roles" to describe the significant impact of someone or something on an outcome. For example: "Technology played "a decisive role" in the company's growth."

What are some alternatives to "decisive roles"?

Alternatives to "decisive roles" include "critical roles", "pivotal roles", or "essential roles", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "decisive roles" or "important roles"?

"Decisive roles" suggests a stronger influence than "important roles". "Decisive" implies that the roles directly shaped the outcome, whereas "important" simply means they were significant.

What's the difference between "decisive roles" and "leading roles"?

"Decisive roles" indicates influence over the outcome, while "leading roles" refers to prominent or main positions. Someone in a leading role may or may not have a decisive influence.