has played a key role

USAGE SUMMARY

"has played a key role" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to an important and influential contribution that someone or something has made to a situation. For example: The mayor's leadership has played a key role in the city's economic recovery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Health Ministry has played a key role.

Independent

But ideology has played a key role as well.

The New Yorker

He has played a key role in each game.

The New York Times - Sports

The Bible has played a key role, she said.

The New York Times

Certainly, good governance has played a key role.

The Guardian

The network has played a key role in shaping and disseminating the TOP Committee's guidelines.

University of California, Berkeley

He has played a key role in the computer privacy debate.

Stanford University

CGG has played a key role as supplier of marine seismic equipment to Lamont.

Columbia University

Tyler Barrett has played a key role in scheduling the talks.

University of California, Berkeley

Life has played a key role in shaping global geochemical processes over billions of years.

University of California, Berkeley

Metabolomics has played a key role in functional genomics and strain classification.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has played a key role", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject has influenced or contributed to. Be specific to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "has played a key role" when the contribution is minor or insignificant. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has played a key role" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject has performed an action of significant importance. It describes the subject's active contribution to a specific outcome or situation. Ludwig provides several examples where this phrase is used to highlight importance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

38%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has played a key role" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the importance and influence of a subject's contribution. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted, especially in news, academic, and scientific contexts. To enhance clarity, be specific about the nature of the contribution and avoid overuse. Consider alternatives like "has been instrumental" or "has been critical in" for variety. Understanding these nuances will help you wield the phrase effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been instrumental

Emphasizes the indispensable nature of the contribution.

has been vital to

Highlights the absolute necessity and life-sustaining quality of the contribution.

has been central to

Indicates that something is essential and of utmost importance.

has been critical in

Stresses the decisive or crucial nature of the contribution.

has been paramount in

Indicates the supreme importance and dominance of the contribution.

has been a major factor

Highlights the significance of the element as one of several contributing causes.

has significantly contributed

Focuses on the act of giving or adding to a result to a considerable extent.

has been decisive in

Stresses the quality of settling an issue conclusively.

has greatly influenced

Emphasizes the extent of the effect or impact on something.

has facilitated

Highlights the action of making a process or action easier.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has played a key role" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "has been instrumental", "has been central to", or "has been paramount in" depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to "has played a key role" that emphasize influence?

If you want to emphasize influence, you could use "has greatly influenced" or "has significantly contributed".

How do I avoid overusing the phrase "has played a key role" in my writing?

Vary your language by using synonyms such as "has been a major factor", "has been critical in", or "has been vital to" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "has played a key role"?

This phrase is suitable when describing a significant contribution to a particular outcome, project, or situation. It is often used in academic, news, and business writing to highlight importance.