seeking significance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeking significance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the pursuit of meaning or importance in various contexts, such as personal growth, philosophy, or research. Example: "In a world filled with distractions, many individuals find themselves seeking significance in their daily lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Taylor (1991) in discussing the ethics of authenticity provides a good summary of the importance of this communal horizon of significance for the construction of a 'thick' self and therefore a 'thick' community: "The agent seeking significance in life, trying to define him- or herself meaningfully, has to exist in a horizon of important questions [shared concerns].

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the 1994 title story, an aging nun in the South Bronx is swept up in a crowd that gathers around a billboard, seeking holy significance in the meaningless murder of a homeless girl.

The New York Times - Books

Another form of delusional belief shapes the title story, published in 1994, in which nuns and passers-by in the South Bronx seek holy significance in the meaningless murder of a homeless girl.

The New York Times - Books

She argues that when people seek the significance of personal and social relationships, they swing between the individual level of feelings, thoughts, wishes, and structural factors.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

To find a non-parametric association between selected analyte concentrations we sought for significance of Spearman rank order correlation.

BMC Geriatrics

This is disquieting because one plausible possibility to explain this effect is "significance seeking".

Plosone

It is highly informative: a newcomer to Bordeaux wines seeking to understand the significance of the winemaker's terms, "right bank" and "left bank", the "1855 classification", garagiste, and so on, will find them explained in a lively and accessible way.

The Economist

The historiography of the period that emphasized the contributions of "great men" has lost much of its influence, but the names Jethro Tull and Arthur Young are still frequently invoked by those seeking to understand the significance of the agricultural revolution, which was an essential prelude to the Industrial Revolution.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While information seeking behavior indicates the significance of information quality (Williamson, 1998), sharing interactions presents a process of relationship management (Bock et al., 2005; Huang et al., 2013).

Fashion and Textiles

The accounts featured here also highlight the contextual significance of seeking care in an overburdened health care system.

BMC Medical Ethics

The intellectual significance of seeking outcomes information follows the proposition that medical academics should apply to their educational endeavors the sort of critical scientific thinking that is expected in their clinical and research work [ 14, 15].

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "searching for meaning" or "pursuing purpose" to add variety to your writing and avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "seeking significance" in vague or abstract contexts without clarifying what "significance" entails. Be precise about the specific area or aspect where meaning is being sought.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeking significance" functions as a verbal phrase acting as a gerund phrase when used as a noun (e.g., "They are seeking significance in life"). Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's often part of a larger clause expressing a goal or motivation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seeking significance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes the pursuit of meaning, importance, or value. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is deemed appropriate for use in written English. It appears across various domains, including science, news, encyclopedias, and personal blogs, indicating its versatility. While alternatives like "searching for meaning" and "pursuing purpose" exist, "seeking significance" provides a specific nuance relating to the active quest for something meaningful and impactful. When using this phrase, clarity in defining what constitutes "significance" is crucial to avoid vagueness. The prevalence of this phrase in authoritative sources reinforces its validity in both formal and neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

searching for meaning

This alternative emphasizes the act of searching rather than the desire behind it. The focus is on the investigative process.

pursuing importance

This alternative uses the more formal term "importance" instead of "significance", shifting the emphasis slightly towards prominence.

looking for purpose

This alternative replaces "significance" with "purpose", which implies a directed goal or intention. The focus is on an individual's aim.

finding relevance

This alternative highlights the act of discovering a connection to something meaningful.

trying to matter

This alternative uses more emotive language, suggesting a desire for validation or impact.

desiring importance

This alternative centers on wanting importance. While similar in meaning, this focuses on the desire instead of the action.

yearning for meaning

This alternative emphasizes the emotional aspect of the quest, suggesting a longing for a sense of purpose.

questing for value

This alternative replaces "significance" with "value", which implies a judgment of worth or usefulness.

striving for consequence

This alternative elevates the phrase to a more grandiose or ambitious ambition.

endeavoring for substance

This choice presents an elevated option for signifying an action toward finding deeper value.

FAQs

How can I use "seeking significance" in a sentence?

You can use "seeking significance" to describe the act of looking for meaning or importance in something. For example: "Many individuals are "seeking significance" in their careers."

What is a more formal alternative to "seeking significance"?

A more formal alternative could be "pursuing importance" or "searching for meaning", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "seeking significance" and "seeking meaning"?

While the terms are very similar, "seeking significance" often implies a search for broader importance or impact, whereas "seeking meaning" may refer to a more personal or internal understanding.

When is it appropriate to use "seeking significance" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "seeking significance" when you want to convey the idea of actively searching for deeper importance, value, or purpose in a particular area of life, research, or experience.