it stopped mattering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it stopped mattering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something has lost its significance or importance over time. Example: "After years of worrying about what others think, I finally realized it stopped mattering to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Then it stopped mattering again.

The New Yorker

(Talk about the anxiety of influence!) Well, of course we couldn't, and then it stopped mattering.

The New York Times - Books

Before I met Anne, I used to say, "My hair's not red, it's dark!" When I was reading Anne of Green Gables and all the wonderful books that followed in the series, it stopped mattering to me that I wasn't as pretty as my blonde and brunette friends.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It stops mattering how good the lyrics are, as the longing begins for something, anything – bongos, jazz flute, an infant-school triangle player, whatever – to add variety.

The Guardian - Music

At some point it stops mattering whether god is a human invention, because his influence is real.

Forbes

"When much of the world is actively hostile, if not outright murderous toward you, it stops mattering if someone is suicide baiting you for being trans or for being otherkin the result is the same".

Vice

In any event, it has stopped mattering.

The New York Times

How long did it take before your wife stopped mattering?

The New Yorker

His wife in the DR sends pleading letters – "How long did it take before your wife stopped mattering" – which Yasmin intercepts and reads compulsively.

The Guardian - Books

Unless incentives suddenly stopped mattering during this recession, it appears that the expanding social safety net explains some of the excess nonemployment among unmarried women who are heads of households.

The New York Times

But it ended up being even better when the dirt on the tent stopped mattering so much and the larger perfection of the moment sunk in.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it stopped mattering" to express a shift in perspective where something once deemed important is no longer significant. This phrase is particularly effective when describing personal growth or changing priorities.

Common error

Avoid substituting "it stopped mattering" with phrases that imply active effort, such as "I stopped caring". The former implies a change in significance, while the latter suggests a deliberate choice to disengage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it stopped mattering" functions as a statement indicating that something has lost its importance or relevance. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it stopped mattering" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey that something has lost its significance. Ludwig's analysis of real-world examples shows that it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. The phrase is useful for expressing shifts in perspective or priorities, indicating a change over time. Alternatives include "it became irrelevant" or "it lost significance", each offering a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it became irrelevant

Focuses on the irrelevance of something, shifting the emphasis from the act of ceasing to matter to the state of being unimportant.

it lost significance

Highlights the loss of significance, emphasizing the reduction in importance over time.

it ceased to be important

A more formal way of saying something stopped mattering, indicating a definitive end to its importance.

it faded into insignificance

Emphasizes a gradual decline in importance, suggesting a slow and subtle loss of relevance.

it no longer counted

Focuses on the lack of impact or influence, suggesting that something's effect has diminished.

it didn't make a difference anymore

Highlights the ineffectiveness or lack of impact, emphasizing that something's consequences are negligible.

it became inconsequential

Indicates that something has become trivial or unimportant, suggesting a lack of significance in the bigger picture.

it was of no consequence

A formal way of stating that something had no importance or effect, emphasizing its lack of impact.

it wasn't a concern anymore

Highlights the absence of worry or concern related to something, implying it's no longer a relevant issue.

it held no weight

Suggests that something lacked influence or importance, emphasizing its inability to affect outcomes.

FAQs

How can I use "it stopped mattering" in a sentence?

You can use "it stopped mattering" to indicate that something that was once important is no longer significant. For example, "After years of worrying about what others thought, "it stopped mattering" to me."

What can I say instead of "it stopped mattering"?

You can use alternatives like "it became irrelevant", "it lost significance", or "it ceased to be important" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it stopped to matter" instead of "it stopped mattering"?

While "it stopped to matter" is grammatically correct, it has a different meaning. It implies that something paused briefly to be important before continuing, which is not the same as ""it stopped mattering"", meaning it lost its importance.

What's the difference between "it doesn't matter" and "it stopped mattering"?

"It doesn't matter" indicates that something is currently unimportant, while ""it stopped mattering"" indicates that something was once important but is no longer so. The latter implies a change over time.