play a decisive role in

USAGE SUMMARY

'play a decisive role in' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to something that has a major influence or effect on a particular situation or outcome. For example, "The CEO's leadership decisions played a decisive role in the company's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Overall, our results suggest that emotional factors play a decisive role in making driving decisions, particularly in risky driving situations.

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

The handover policies involved in the handover decision process stage play a decisive role in scheduling the handover process efficiently.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

But he worries that politics will play a decisive role in the FBI's decision.

The Washington Post

Hormones also play a decisive role in animal growth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The proportion of coal and sand do not play a decisive role in uniaxial compressive strength.

International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

Boundary, initial and loading conditions play a decisive role in solving the simulation.

Finite Element Method A Practical Course

T lymphocytes play a decisive role in the course and clinical outcome of viral retinal infection.

Progress in Retinal and Eye Research

Collectors play a decisive role in froth flotation by selectively hydrophobizing mineral particles.

Minerals Engineering

The XRD results revealed that the solvents play a decisive role in the crystallization of products.

Inorganica Chimica Acta

Recent findings, however, suggest that state actors also play a decisive role in private certification governance.

Policy and Society

Medial lobe temporal structures and more specifically the hippocampus play a decisive role in episodic memory.

Journal of Neuroradiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "play a decisive role in", ensure that the context clearly demonstrates the significant impact or influence of the subject. Use specific examples or evidence to support the claim.

Common error

Avoid using "play a decisive role in" when the subject's impact is only moderate or minor. Instead, opt for phrases that reflect a more limited degree of influence, such as "contribute to" or "be a factor in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play a decisive role in" functions as a verb phrase indicating the significant influence or impact of a subject on a particular situation or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status, backed by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

32%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "play a decisive role in" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the significant influence of a subject on an outcome. It is grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI, and commonly found in diverse sources, from scientific publications to news articles. While effective, it is important to use it judiciously, ensuring that the subject's impact is truly decisive and supported by evidence. Alternatives like "be instrumental in" or "be crucial in" can offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts. Therefore, understanding its proper context and potential substitutes can enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be instrumental in

Emphasizes the essential contribution of something to a particular outcome.

be crucial in

Highlights the critical and indispensable nature of something.

be critical to

Similar to "be crucial in", but may imply a slightly higher level of risk or potential for failure if the crucial element is missing.

be pivotal in

Suggests that something acts as a turning point or a key factor that determines the direction of events.

be fundamental to

Indicates that something forms a necessary base or core for something else.

be essential to

Highlights the necessity of something for achieving a certain result.

be significant in

Emphasizes the importance and impact of something.

have a major impact on

Focuses on the extent and degree of influence exerted by something.

exert a strong influence on

Highlights the power and effectiveness of something in shaping or directing events.

figure prominently in

Suggests something is highly visible or important within a particular context.

FAQs

How can I use "play a decisive role in" in a sentence?

Use "play a decisive role in" to indicate that something has a major impact on an outcome. For example, "The new policy will play a decisive role in reducing pollution."

What can I say instead of "play a decisive role in"?

You can use alternatives like "be instrumental in", "be crucial in", or "be pivotal in" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "played a decisive role"?

Yes, "played a decisive role" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct. For example, "Her leadership played a decisive role in the team's success."

What's the difference between "play a decisive role in" and "play an important role in"?

"Play a decisive role in" suggests a greater degree of influence than "play an important role in". Decisive implies that the subject significantly determines the outcome, whereas important simply means that the subject has a notable impact.