exert some defining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exert some defining" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of having an influence or impact on something that defines or characterizes it, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "In order to improve the project, we need to exert some defining influence on its direction."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was also the kind of night where Arsenal fans might once again reasonably look to Özil to exert some defining influence.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This implies that the Triple Helix model has not been fully developed to take into account the context effect, which is defined as "the set of factors surrounding a phenomenon that exert some direct or indirect influence on it" (Whetten 2009, p.31).

Triple Helix

The party should be able to exert some political power.

The New York Times

Why didn't he exert some control over his cast?

The New York Times

Nobody seriously doubts that movies exert some influence.

The New York Times

"So you can exert some influence that way by throwing parties or Q&As.

The Guardian

But it seems that the fractal zealots have managed to exert some influence in psychology".

The Guardian

And yet the EU does have the potential to exert some influence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Koolhaas added, "China might choose to exert some control over content for its internal political stability".

The New Yorker

"We can exert some pressure for the rest of the industry to similarly start to comply".

The New York Times

We have to exert some control.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express a notable impact, consider using stronger, more direct verbs such as "exercise", "have", or "play" in conjunction with "defining influence" or "decisive impact" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid combining "exert" with modifiers like "defining" when simpler alternatives such as "exercise significant influence" or "play a defining role" offer clearer and more impactful expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exert some defining" attempts to describe the action of applying a particular influence, but its construction is awkward. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrasing can be improved for clarity. It functions as a verb phrase intended to modify a noun, though not effectively.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exert some defining" is grammatically awkward and not commonly used, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. While its intent is to convey the application of influence in a way that shapes or characterizes something, clearer and more impactful alternatives exist, such as "exercise significant influence" or "play a defining role". Usage primarily appears in news media and scientific contexts. For improved clarity and stronger communication, consider adopting these alternative phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exercise significant influence

This alternative suggests a strong and noticeable impact, focusing on the magnitude of influence rather than its defining nature.

have a decisive impact

This phrase emphasizes the conclusive nature of the impact, suggesting that it resolves or significantly alters a situation.

exert a key influence

Focuses on the importance of the influence, highlighting that it is essential or central to the outcome.

play a defining role

This option directly addresses the idea of shaping or characterizing something, similar to the original phrase's intent.

have a formative influence

Highlights the developmental aspect of the influence, indicating that it helps shape something over time.

exert considerable control

Shifts the focus to control, implying a direct ability to manage or direct something.

wield considerable influence

Emphasizes the power and authority behind the influence, suggesting a deliberate and impactful application.

exert substantial leverage

This alternative suggests using influence to gain an advantage or produce a desired outcome.

have a transformative effect

Focuses on the resulting change, suggesting a profound and significant alteration due to the influence.

exert strategic pressure

Suggests a calculated application of influence to achieve specific strategic goals.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "exert some defining influence"?

Alternatives include "exercise significant influence", "have a decisive impact", or "play a defining role", depending on the specific context.

Is "exert some defining influence" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "exert some defining influence" is not the most grammatically sound phrasing. It is better to use clearer alternatives like "exert a key influence" or "have a formative influence".

How can I use the phrase "exert influence" correctly?

Focus on pairing "exert" with strong nouns like "control", "pressure", or "influence". For example, "exert considerable control" or "exert strategic pressure" are more common and grammatically stronger.

What is the difference between "exert influence" and "have influence"?

"Exert influence" implies an active application of power or control, whereas "have influence" simply indicates possession of it. Using "exercise significant influence" suggests deliberately using influence, while "have a formative influence" indicates influence by default.