had a significant impact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had a significant impact" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the effects or influence of an event, action, or decision on a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The new policy had a significant impact on employee productivity and morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The investigation had a significant impact.

The New York Times

Demographic shifts have had a significant impact.

The Guardian

"We've had a significant impact on the US political system".

The Guardian

The projects were wide-ranging and had a significant impact.

The Guardian

What is going on here has had a significant impact".

The Guardian - Sport

This "had a significant impact on user growth," he said.

The New York Times

Computer technology has had a significant impact on retail stores.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Peston's disclosure about Cable's "war on Murdoch" remark had a significant impact at the time.

The Guardian

This evidence-based approach already has had a significant impact in the marketplace.

The New York Times - Science

Ben Stewart, head of media at Greenpeace, says the emails controversy had a significant impact.

The Guardian

This legislation has had a significant impact on our nation's health.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had a significant impact", ensure that you specify what was impacted and, if possible, the nature or extent of the impact. This provides clarity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "had a significant impact" without specifying the affected area or outcome. For example, instead of saying "The policy had a significant impact", specify "The policy "had a significant impact" on employee morale and productivity".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had a significant impact" functions as a verb phrase expressing causation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a standard way to describe the influence or effect of something. The examples show it used to describe effects on diverse subjects like user growth, political systems and scientific research.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

45%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had a significant impact" is a versatile phrase for expressing that something has notably influenced a situation or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and broadly applicable, with usage spanning across news, scientific research, and general discussions. To use the phrase effectively, specify what was impacted and the nature or extent of the impact. While alternatives like "made a substantial difference" or "exerted a considerable influence" exist, "had a significant impact" remains a clear and widely understood choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made a substantial difference

Replaces "impact" with "difference" and "significant" with "substantial", focusing on the extent of change.

exerted a considerable influence

Substitutes "impact" with "influence" and "significant" with "considerable", highlighting the power to affect something.

had a profound effect

Replaces "significant" with "profound", suggesting a deep and far-reaching impact.

left a marked impression

Uses a more figurative expression, implying a noticeable and lasting effect.

greatly influenced

A more concise way of saying something had a big effect.

played a pivotal role

Emphasizes the importance of the role played in a particular outcome.

substantially altered

Highlights the degree of alteration that occurred because of something.

brought about a major change

Focuses on the resulting change, rather than the initial impact.

had a noteworthy effect

Uses "noteworthy" instead of "significant" to emphasize that the effect was important.

created a substantial alteration

Replaces both words and focuses on the creation of a change.

FAQs

How can I use "had a significant impact" in a sentence?

Use "had a significant impact" to describe the considerable influence or effect of something on a particular situation or outcome. For example, "The new regulations "had a significant impact" on the company's profits".

What are some alternatives to "had a significant impact"?

You can use alternatives such as "made a substantial difference", "exerted a considerable influence", or "had a profound effect" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "significant impact" or "major impact"?

Both "significant impact" and "major impact" are acceptable, but "significant impact" is generally more common and versatile. "Major impact" implies a larger scale or more noticeable effect than "significant impact".

What is the difference between "impact" and "effect"?

"Impact" generally refers to a forceful or dramatic effect, while "effect" is a more general term for a result or consequence. While often interchangeable, ""had a significant impact"" suggests a more powerful influence than "had a significant effect".