it made a significant difference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it made a significant difference" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a particular action or event had a notable impact or effect on a situation. Example: "The new marketing strategy was implemented last quarter, and it made a significant difference in our sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It made a significant difference to the Mirror's headline figure of course.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Since then, Northwestern has instituted mandatory nap time into its game-day regimen, with players contending that it makes a significant difference on the field.

Huffington Post

"I doubt that it makes a significant difference in the safety of drugs or other products," Mr. Calfee said.

The New York Times - Health

In reality we do not think it makes a significant difference as there are a large number of chip vendors already making Arm-based server processors and trying to sell them to end customers like Google.

The Guardian - Business

Yet the president drew the contrast on Thursday in California when, appearing with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, he said, "It makes a significant difference when you have somebody in the Statehouse willing to take the lead".

The New York Times

"You have to remember, Japan is still the world's third-largest economy, so if it is back in the ballgame, it makes a significant difference to the rest of the world — and especially for Asia".

The New York Times

This question will be existentially important, since faith will not count as of the religious kind unless commitment to it makes a significant difference to how one lives one's life.

SEP

Phylogenetic context is important for exploring this issue because it makes a significant difference whether species with nonplanktotrophic development are found to be grouped closely together on phylogenetic trees or whether they are found to show multiple independent origins within predominantly planktotrophic groups.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

With Rio's and Brazil's fiscal finances in deep deficit, and with public servants not being paid and social services in near dysfunction, it makes a significant difference whether the loss is $1.6 billion or 10 times greater at $16.7 billion.

Huffington Post

And that is why, although of course it makes a significant difference who controls the House, at the level of how individual members vote, the recent election didn't change that much in the House with respect to the war in Afghanistan..

Huffington Post

Fortunately, the situations where it makes a significant difference almost always occur in artificial situations unlikely to occur (or to be recognized if they do occur) in natural games.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it made a significant difference", ensure that the subject ('it') is clearly defined and that the context explains what specific aspect was significantly impacted. Clarity is crucial for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "it made a significant difference" when the impact is minimal or unnoticeable. Overusing this phrase can dilute its meaning and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it made a significant difference" functions as a statement indicating that something had a notable or important effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it made a significant difference" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a notable impact or effect. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and appropriate for various contexts. It commonly appears in news, scientific, and formal business settings. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in defining the subject and the specific aspect that experienced the impact to avoid overstating the actual significance. Alternatives such as "it had a substantial impact" or "it created a noticeable change" can provide variety while maintaining semantic accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it had a substantial impact

Changes "made a significant difference" to a more direct statement of impact using "substantial".

it had a major effect

Replaces "significant difference" with "major effect", using a more direct and forceful term.

it created a noticeable change

Replaces "significant difference" with "noticeable change", emphasizing the perceptibility of the impact.

it brought about a marked improvement

Focuses on the positive aspect of the change, using "marked improvement" instead of a neutral "difference".

it led to a considerable alteration

Uses "considerable alteration" to highlight the degree of change that occurred.

it resulted in a meaningful shift

Emphasizes that the change was important or valuable by using "meaningful shift".

it produced a tangible effect

Emphasizes the real, measurable nature of the effect, replacing "difference" with "tangible effect".

it exerted a powerful influence

Focuses on the strength of the influence, shifting the emphasis from the resulting difference.

it played a crucial role

Highlights the importance of the action or event, indicating that it was essential for the outcome.

it contributed significantly

Simplifies the phrase to a more concise statement of contribution, omitting the specific mention of "difference".

FAQs

How can I use "it made a significant difference" in a sentence?

Use "it made a significant difference" to highlight a notable impact or effect. For example: "The new policy /s/it+made+a+significant+difference to employee morale."

What can I say instead of "it made a significant difference"?

You can use alternatives such as "it had a substantial impact", "it created a noticeable change", or "it brought about a marked improvement" depending on the context.

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

Both "significant difference" and "major difference" are acceptable. "Major difference" implies a larger impact, while "significant difference" indicates a noteworthy or important change.

Which is correct: "it makes a significant difference" or "it made a significant difference"?

"It makes a significant difference" is used for present or general situations, while "it made a significant difference" refers to a past event or action that had an impact. Choose the tense that fits your context.