played a pivotal role

USAGE SUMMARY

"played a pivotal role" is a valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone or something was very important in a particular situation. For example: "The president's leadership played a pivotal role in helping the country emerge from economic hardship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Music has always played a pivotal role in Eritrea.

The Guardian

The BAL played a pivotal role in manifesting this ideology.

The Guardian - Sport

Special teams played a pivotal role in the Miami rally.

The New York Times - Sports

Local activists have played a pivotal role in these changes.

The Guardian

Melo played a pivotal role in the burst.

The New York Times - Sports

Stralman, though, played a pivotal role in the winning shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Garcia, the long forgotten pitcher, played a pivotal role.

The New York Times - Sports

MINING played a pivotal role in British history.

The Economist

Researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astroplayeds (Cfa) pivotala pivotal role in the work.

Harvard University

Serendipity has played a pivotal role in the life of Cordaro Rodriguez '08.

Princeton University

Throughout civilization, animals have played a pivotal role in the advancement of science and medicine.

Journal of Veterinary Cardiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "played a pivotal role", ensure the context clearly identifies what was significantly influenced or impacted. This adds clarity and strength to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "played a pivotal role" as a generic compliment. Always provide specific examples or evidence to support the claim of significant impact or influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "played a pivotal role" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the performance of a significant action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "played a pivotal role" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression to denote significant importance or influence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity through numerous examples spanning various domains, including news, science, and academia. While the phrase is versatile, it's crucial to use it with specific context and evidence to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "was instrumental" or "was crucial" can offer nuanced variations depending on the desired emphasis. The frequency of the expression across authoritative sources underscores its reliability and effectiveness in formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Was key

Highlights the importance of something as a key element, differing from "played a pivotal role" by suggesting a simple, crucial component.

Was crucial

Emphasizes the decisiveness of a role, shifting from the broader importance implied by "played a pivotal role".

Was essential

Highlights the necessity of something, whereas "played a pivotal role" focuses on importance and influence.

Was central to

Indicates that something was at the center or core of an event, changing the focus from just being important.

Was instrumental

Focuses on the action of being an instrument or means to achieve a result, differing from "played a pivotal role" by emphasizing the tool-like function.

Significantly influenced

Focuses specifically on the influence exerted, contrasting with "played a pivotal role" which suggests a broader impact.

Had a decisive impact

Highlights the impact of an action, differing from "played a pivotal role" by concentrating on the outcome rather than the process.

Served a critical function

Emphasizes the function served rather than the influence or importance of a role.

Greatly contributed to

Focuses on the contribution made, differing from "played a pivotal role" by highlighting the act of contributing.

Was of paramount importance

Stresses the supreme importance, which is a stronger emphasis than simply playing a pivotal role.

FAQs

How can I use "played a pivotal role" in a sentence?

Use "played a pivotal role" to highlight someone or something that was crucial or very important in a particular event or situation. For example, "Her research "played a pivotal role" in the development of the new vaccine."

What are some alternatives to saying "played a pivotal role"?

You can use alternatives such as "was instrumental", "was essential", or "was crucial" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. For instance, "Her leadership "was instrumental" in the company's success."

Is it better to say "played a pivotal role" or "played an important role"?

"Played a pivotal role" suggests a more significant and decisive impact compared to "played an important role". Pivotal implies that the role was crucial and central to the outcome. Using pivotal reinforces more importance than just important.

What's the difference between "played a pivotal role" and "had a significant impact"?

While both indicate importance, "played a pivotal role" suggests direct involvement and centrality, while "had a significant impact" focuses on the result or effect. "The new policy "had a significant impact" on the economy", indicates an effect but not necessarily direct participation.