person of influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "person of influence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has the power to affect decisions, opinions, or actions of others, often in a social, political, or business context. Example: "As a person of influence in the community, her endorsement can significantly impact the outcome of the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"I think the biggest person of influence in this organization is Latrell.

The New York Times - Sports

Becoming a person of influence online As job hunting becomes more digital, it is vital you lay down a positive cyber profile to ensure your future career success.

The Economist

I try to be playfully distant, but it's my job to be nice — plus, she's a person of influence in the food and wine industry.

The New York Times

The woman, Jill Kelley, 37, is "a very well-known person of influence in the Tampa community," active in community organizations that support military causes, according to the friend.

The New York Times

The main person of influence, Caroline's employer at a thrift shop, was a friend of the president of the Sugar River Savings Bank, who met Caroline and told her boss, "She seems like the type of woman who would go hungry to pay the bill".

The New York Times - Magazine

Dudkevitch, a sour-faced man in his thirties who was dressed in a black suit and a white shirt, is a person of influence among yet another type of radical settler, the "hilltop youth" — teen-agers and young men who have built makeshift settlements, sometimes out of nothing more than rusting shipping containers, on remote mountaintops.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

CMCs also accompany vaccinator teams to homes with children under five years of age, work to convince families with an unvaccinated child (called an 'X' household) to allow their child to be vaccinated (called converting an 'X' household to 'P', with 'P' denoting a house where all eligible children are vaccinated against polio), and accompany persons of influence (influencers) during home visits.

BMC Infectious Diseases

CMCs also do the following: accompany vaccinator teams to all the houses; work to convince families with an unvaccinated child (called an 'X' household) to allow their child to be vaccinated (converting an 'X' household to 'P' (denoting a house where all eligible children are vaccinated against polio); and, accompany persons of influence (influencers) during follow-up activities.

BMC Infectious Diseases

The involvement of persons of influence or policy makers in the research process favoured uptake in projects 1 and 4. In project 3, the political context was initially receptive when the project was funded but had changed in response to other events leaving a research finding incongruent with other major influences and without impact, despite the best efforts of the research team.

Health Research Policy and Systems

There were previously four pre-selected topics for the personal essay: "evaluate a significant experience, achievement or risk" and "indicate a person of great influence" were among the selection.

Huffington Post

To the degree that this occurs, Dr. Diamond and Dr. Aspinwall argue, emotional closeness allows the biology of one person to influence that of the other.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to someone as a "person of influence", provide specific examples of how they exert their influence to add credibility to your claim.

Common error

Avoid calling someone a "person of influence" without backing it up with concrete examples or evidence of their impact. Unsupported claims can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "person of influence" functions as a noun phrase that identifies an individual who has the capacity to affect the opinions, decisions, or actions of others. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "person of influence" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone who has a significant impact on others' decisions or actions. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used across diverse contexts, including News & Media, Wiki, and Science. While alternatives like "influential figure" or "key figure" exist, "person of influence" maintains a neutral to professional tone, suitable for formal discussions. It's crucial to provide supporting evidence when using this phrase to substantiate the individual's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

influential individual

Replaces 'person' with 'individual', which is a more formal synonym.

key figure

Uses a more concise term to denote the person's importance.

prominent figure

Highlights the person's visibility and recognition.

significant player

Uses a metaphor indicating someone important in a particular field or activity.

leading light

Emphasizes the person's role as a guide or inspiration.

opinion leader

Specifically denotes someone whose opinions are respected and followed.

power broker

Focuses on the person's ability to exert influence, particularly in politics or business.

change agent

Emphasizes the person's role in bringing about change.

mover and shaker

Indicates someone who actively makes things happen and influences events.

trendsetter

Highlights the person's ability to start new trends and influence popular culture.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "person of influence" in a sentence?

Use "person of influence" to accurately describe someone who demonstrably affects decisions, opinions, or actions of others. For example: "As a "person of influence" in the community, her endorsement carries significant weight."

What are some alternatives to "person of influence"?

Consider using alternatives like "influential figure", "key figure", or "opinion leader" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "person of influence" or "influencer"?

While both terms refer to someone who can affect others, "person of influence" is generally more formal and applicable in broader contexts. "Influencer" is often associated with social media and marketing.

What distinguishes a "person of influence" from a "person of power"?

A "person of power" typically holds an official position or authority, while a "person of influence" affects others through persuasion, expertise, or relationships, regardless of their formal role. See also: "person of power".