not significantly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not significantly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something does not have a meaningful or important impact or effect. Example: "The changes made to the policy did not significantly alter the overall outcome of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's not significantly altered.

The Guardian

Obama has not significantly altered that course.

The New York Times

Plays may not significantly affect election results.

The New York Times

"The viral load was not significantly different".

The New York Times

That's not significantly different from 1992.

The Guardian - Opinion

These standards have not significantly changed in nearly 20 years.

The New York Times

They were not significantly factored into the left's analysis.

The Guardian - Opinion

Current incentives have not significantly alleviated the housing crisis.

The New York Times

"And the other two were not significantly higher.

The New York Times

My musical experience was not significantly different from Elleza's.

The New York Times - Arts

It will not significantly alter the military balance.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not significantly" to precisely communicate that observed differences or changes are statistically or practically unimportant. This helps avoid overstating the impact of your findings.

Common error

Avoid assuming "not significantly" means there's absolutely no effect; it simply means the effect wasn't large enough to rule out random chance. Consider the possibility of a real effect that a larger sample size could reveal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not significantly" functions as an adverbial modifier. It typically modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action, quality, or degree is not meaningfully or statistically different. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not significantly" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to denote that a change or difference is inconsequential or lacks statistical importance. As Ludwig highlights, it appears frequently in scientific literature and news reporting. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's important to avoid misinterpreting its meaning to imply the complete absence of any effect. Instead, it suggests the effect is either too small to be meaningful or statistically insignificant given the sample size. Alternatives like "not substantially" or "not materially" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Ensure accurate and informed usage, especially in contexts where precision is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not substantially

Replaces "significantly" with "substantially", implying a lack of major impact.

not materially

Replaces "significantly" with "materially", suggesting the effect isn't important or consequential.

not considerably

Replaces "significantly" with "considerably", implying the change is not large in amount or degree.

not appreciably

Replaces "significantly" with "appreciably", suggesting the effect is barely noticeable.

not markedly

Replaces "significantly" with "markedly", indicating the difference is not easily observed.

not noticeably

Replaces "significantly" with "noticeably", meaning the change is hard to detect.

not particularly

Uses "particularly" to downplay the importance or degree of an effect.

not especially

Employs "especially" to diminish the noteworthiness of a change.

not to a great extent

Expresses that the influence is limited or minimal.

to a limited degree

Indicates that an action or effect is constrained or moderate.

FAQs

How can I use "not significantly" in a sentence?

Use "not significantly" to indicate that a difference or change is too small to be considered important or meaningful. For example, "The new drug improved patient outcomes, but "not significantly"".

What are some alternatives to using "not significantly"?

Alternatives include phrases like "not substantially", "not materially", or "not considerably". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it accurate to say something had no effect if the results were "not significantly" different?

Not necessarily. "Not significantly" means the observed difference could be due to random variation. There might still be a real, but smaller, effect. A larger study might reveal a statistically significant difference.

What's the difference between "not significantly" and "insignificantly"?

"Not significantly" typically refers to a statistical finding, indicating the results did not meet a predetermined threshold for significance. "Insignificantly" generally means something is small or unimportant in magnitude or impact.