not as significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not as significant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the importance or impact of one thing relative to another, indicating that it holds lesser significance. Example: "While the first study provided valuable insights, the second study was not as significant in its findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But today that is not as significant.

The Guardian - Business

Even that was not as significant as it first appeared.

The Guardian - Sport

Not as significant as the cost of wasted time.

Independent

Maybe not as significant as the Sun backing David Cameron last week, true.

The Guardian - Music

This is a factor, but is not as significant as people tend to assume.

The New Yorker

"In my estimation, it's not as significant as when he first did this," the trainer Kevin O'Neill said.

The New York Times - Sports

The unspoken implication is that Ida is not as significant as billed, but Schaal won't be drawn.

The Guardian

These results indicate that the slowed warming of average global surface temperature is not as significant as previously believed.

The Guardian

Rising energy, property and transportation costs are not as significant a factor in the index.

The New York Times

And the first thing to note about this constantly wrongfooting book is that the publication date and the title are not as significant as you may think.

The Guardian - Books

Ferment and creativity begin in the Fertile Crescent, Egypt is a significant part of the story but not as significant as Greece, and in a different way, Rome.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not as significant", ensure you clearly define what you are comparing it to. This provides context and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "not as significant" when something is completely irrelevant. The phrase implies some level of importance, however small. Use "irrelevant" or "negligible" instead if the factor has no bearing on the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not as significant" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that something is less important or impactful than something else, establishing a relative difference in significance. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not as significant" is a versatile and grammatically sound comparative adjective phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is widely used across diverse domains, including science, news media, and business, to indicate that one thing is less important or impactful than another. When employing this phrase, ensure you provide a clear comparison to avoid ambiguity. While very common, avoid using "not as significant" when "irrelevant" or "negligible" would be more accurate. Remember that while both "not as significant as" and "not so significant as" are correct, the former is preferred in modern usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less significant

This is a direct synonym, simply replacing "not as" with "less".

not as important

Substitutes "significant" with "important", conveying the same meaning.

of lesser importance

Rephrases the concept to focus on the reduced level of importance.

not as crucial

Replaces "significant" with "crucial", suggesting a reduced criticality.

not as vital

Replaces "significant" with "vital", indicating a lower degree of necessity.

relatively minor

Uses "minor" to suggest something is less substantial.

comparatively smaller

Focuses on the reduced scale or impact of something.

not as substantial

Emphasizes the reduced amount or degree of something.

secondary in importance

Positions something as having a lower priority.

not a primary concern

Indicates that something is not a top priority.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "not as significant"?

You can use alternatives like "less significant", "not as important", or "of lesser importance" depending on the context.

How do I use "not as significant" in a sentence?

"Not as significant" is used to compare the importance of two or more things, indicating that one is less important than the other. For example: "While cost is a factor, it's "not as significant" as quality."

Which is correct: "not as significant as" or "not so significant as"?

Both "not as significant as" and "not so significant as" are grammatically correct, but "not as significant as" is more commonly used in contemporary English. The meaning is the same.

What's the difference between "not significant" and "not as significant"?

"Not significant" implies something is unimportant or negligible. "Not as significant" indicates that something is less important than something else. The latter is comparative, while the former is absolute.