outsized importance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outsized importance" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something or someone that has a greater significance or influence than what is typical or expected. Example: The media attributed an outsized importance to the celebrity's statement, causing it to go viral and spark widespread debate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

If a 60-vote Senate hangs in the balance, the runoff could take on outsized importance.

The New York Times

The outsized importance they play in our national politics makes little sense.

The Guardian - Opinion

"So the ads are of diminished importance in a social media age, and things like debates become of outsized importance".

The New York Times

Mr. Wade, a native of South Carolina, reminds his Iowa audiences of their outsized importance in the presidential nominating contest.

The New York Times

As seen from Moscow, placing an outsized importance on Russian interference flatters Putin more than does him harm.

The New Yorker

The Bob Jones visit took on an outsized importance because Mr. Bush has still been a relative blank slate ideologically.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Product integration is a small slice of the advertising budget, but it can take on outsized symbolic importance, as the watermark of a sponsor's power to alter the story — and it is often impossible to tell whether the mention is paid or not.

The New Yorker

How people read the scene tells us less about Rand herself and more about the reader, which also seems to explain the outsized cultural importance of Rand's oeuvre.

Vice

Truffaut added an unsparing critique of "Tout Va Bien," which he found "disheartened and cautious," compared with "Breathless," and blamed "that famous trendy Left which runs the gamut from Susan Sontag to Bertolucci" for giving Godard an outsized sense of importance.

The New Yorker

"Portlandia" is an extended joke about what Freud called the narcissism of small differences: the need to distinguish oneself by minute shadings and to insist, with outsized militancy, on the importance of those shadings.

The New Yorker

We are bending our lives and our government around the corporations' outsized sense of their own importance.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outsized importance" to convey that something has more influence or relevance than it normally would. For example, "The early primary states hold an outsized importance in presidential elections."

Common error

While "outsized importance" is widely accepted, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation. In informal settings, simpler phrases like "very important" or "highly significant" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outsized importance" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "outsized" modifies the noun "importance". It indicates that something is considered more important than its actual merits might suggest. Ludwig examples demonstrate use in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outsized importance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that signifies something has more importance than is typical or expected. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and serves to emphasize that a topic is receiving a disproportionate amount of attention. While widely accepted, writers should consider the tone and avoid overuse of the phrase in informal contexts, opting for simpler alternatives when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exaggerated significance

Emphasizes the inflated or overstated nature of the importance.

undue emphasis

Focuses on the inappropriateness or excessiveness of the attention given.

disproportionate weight

Highlights the imbalance in the consideration or influence.

overstated value

Indicates that the actual worth is less than what is being presented.

excessive relevance

Suggests the importance is beyond what is appropriate or necessary.

heightened prominence

Highlights the increase in visibility and notice.

amplified magnitude

Emphasizes the increased scale or impact.

inflated gravity

Focuses on the exaggerated seriousness or weight of something.

super-sized relevance

An informal way of indicating the large impact of something.

magnified significance

Suggests an increase in notability.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "outsized importance" in a sentence?

Use "outsized importance" to describe situations where something receives more attention, influence, or significance than expected. For instance, "The role of social media has taken on "outsized importance" in modern political campaigns."

What are some alternatives to "outsized importance" that I can use?

You can use alternatives such as "exaggerated significance", "disproportionate weight", or "undue emphasis" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "an outsized importance" or should I omit the article "an"?

The phrase "outsized importance" is typically used as a non-count noun, so you would generally omit the article. Therefore, "outsized importance" is usually correct. Adding an article changes the meaning.

What's the difference between "outsized importance" and "great importance"?

"Outsized importance" suggests that something has more importance than it perhaps deserves or than is typical, while "great importance" simply indicates that something is very important. The former carries a nuance of disproportion or unexpected magnitude.