made a significant step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made a significant step" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate progress or advancement in a particular area or situation. Example: "The company made a significant step towards sustainability by reducing its carbon footprint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

While not establishing primogeniture as such, he made a significant step in that direction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By indicating that it would consider a system of schoolwide incentive pay, the union has made a significant step toward Mr. Giuliani, labor experts said.

The New York Times

Recently, researchers in the Philippines have made a significant step in the processing of water hyacinth into textiles on a large scale.

The Guardian

"The government today has made a significant step forward in preventing rapists using rape pornography to legitimise and strategise their crimes and, more broadly, in challenging the eroticisation of violence against women and girls".

The Guardian - Tech

International researchers say they have made a "significant step" towards a predictive blood test for tuberculosis.

BBC

Alonso has been fighting a rearguard battle since Red Bull made a significant step forward with their car for the final seven races of the season.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Ria Novosti said the insertion of such rods "would make a significant step forward in Iran's nuclear program".

The New York Times

I think if we can just get qualifying sorted then we can make a significant step forward".

Independent

If your company is going to make a significant step toward sustainability, it probably won't make business sense, at least not in any way that can be predicted or quantified.

The Guardian

De Bohun said after the Wanderers beat the Mariners 2-0 FFA were making a "significant step" as of Sunday to offer a right of appeal to fans who felt hard done by the banning orders.

The Guardian - Sport

However, and here lies the importance of the present judgment, the court did make a significant step by recognising that stable relationships of cohabiting same-sex couples fall within the notion of family life.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made a significant step" when you want to emphasize a concrete action that led to noticeable progress. It is especially effective when describing specific achievements or milestones.

Common error

Avoid using "made a significant step" for minor or incremental changes. Ensure that the step genuinely represents a substantial advancement in the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made a significant step" functions as a verb phrase indicating the accomplishment of a notable action. It is frequently used to describe advancements in various fields. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is considered grammatically sound English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made a significant step" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe achieving notable progress, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions to highlight accomplishments and advancements in various fields, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where actual, measurable progress has occurred. Alternatives such as "took a considerable stride" or "achieved a notable advancement" offer similar meanings, but may provide slightly different nuances. In conclusion, "made a significant step" is a reliable phrase for conveying meaningful progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took a considerable stride

Replaces "step" with "stride" and "significant" with "considerable", emphasizing the magnitude of the progress.

achieved a notable advancement

Uses "advancement" instead of "step", highlighting the improvement achieved.

advanced substantially

Replaces the entire phrase with a concise adverbial phrase, focusing on the degree of progress.

progressed significantly

Similar to "advanced substantially", but uses the verb "progressed".

made substantial headway

Uses the idiom "headway" to indicate progress, replacing "step".

gained significant ground

Employs the idiom "gained ground" to convey advancement, offering a more metaphorical expression.

moved forward considerably

Focuses on the forward movement aspect of the progress.

effected a major change

Highlights the change resulting from the progress, rather than the act of making a step.

attained considerable improvement

Emphasizes the improvement achieved as a result of the action.

reached a critical milestone

Focuses on achieving a specific goal or benchmark, rather than general progress.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "made a significant step"?

It means they have achieved notable progress or advancement in a particular area, task, or project. It suggests that the action taken has resulted in a substantial positive change.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "made a significant step"?

It's appropriate when describing a concrete action that has led to clear and measurable progress. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts.

What are some alternatives to saying "made a significant step"?

You can use alternatives like "took a considerable stride", "achieved a notable advancement", or "advanced substantially" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "made a significant step" and "made significant progress"?

"Made a significant step" emphasizes the action taken, while "made significant progress" emphasizes the overall result. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the specific action or the resulting improvement.