sheer importance

USAGE SUMMARY

'sheer importance' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the significance of something. For example, "The sheer importance of daily exercise cannot be overstated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The Nina Simone set on YouTube is absolutely riveting and underlines the sheer importance of the event.

The Guardian - Music

But he retains a high place in the MediaGuardian 100 thanks to the sheer importance of his role and the size of his audience.

The Guardian

The sheer importance of immigration to voters is extremely good news for Nigel Farage's Ukip who narrowly edge the Conservatives on this point.

The Guardian

WHY THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A FIVE STAR READ: What I especially loved about Whisper to Me is the sheer importance it gave to the mental illness itself.

The Guardian

Top-level professional cycling is highly structured, for various reasons – the use of earphones, the allocation of WorldTour points, the sheer importance of television time – which tends to discourage individual initiative.

The Guardian - Sport

One reason is that their sheer importance in the debt markets has made even big Wall Street firms, whose regulators are somewhat more demanding than the OFHEO, wary of crossing them.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Lincoln is an awards-season movie through and through – that brooding poster image of Daniel Day-Lewis's president in profile, lost in thought, dealing with the burdens of history and command, hammers home the sheer granite importance of what is being dramatised.

The Guardian - Film

For sheer art historical importance, it is surpassed by two iron doors crafted by Sigismond Falkenhauer.

The New York Times - Arts

The sheer size and importance of Carter's haul seems to have discouraged scholars from tackling it.

The Guardian

The jury, as most juries are, was a cross section of real people, who had their lives rearranged by the sheer length and importance of this trial.

The New York Times

A webcam transmits live images of the Wall round the clock via the internet - testament to the sheer magnitude and importance of the structure to world Jewry, and proof of one incontrovertibly positive outcome of the Six-day War.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sheer importance" to emphasize a quality that is fundamentally important, not just superficially so. For example, "The sheer importance of clean water to public health cannot be overstated."

Common error

Don't use "sheer importance" when you simply mean "great importance". "Sheer" implies that the importance arises from the fundamental nature of something, not merely its degree. For example, using "great importance" is more appropriate when discussing something that is strategically important rather than intrinsically so.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer importance" functions as a noun phrase where "sheer" modifies the noun "importance", emphasizing the magnitude or fundamental nature of something's significance. It suggests that the importance is not just significant but fundamentally so. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Science & Research

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sheer importance" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to emphasize the fundamental significance of something. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for a variety of contexts, though most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific publications. While alternatives like "paramount importance" and "utter significance" exist, "sheer importance" is useful to use to underscore that the importance stems from the innate nature of the subject. Remember to use "sheer importance" when you want to highlight a fundamental quality, not just a high degree of importance. To enhance your writing, be sure to use Ludwig for further examples and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Paramount importance

Uses "paramount" instead of "sheer" to denote the highest level of importance.

Utter significance

Replaces "importance" with "significance" and "sheer" with "utter", providing a slightly more formal tone.

Extreme significance

Emphasizes the level of significance by using "extreme".

Overriding significance

Suggests that the significance outweighs other considerations.

Unquestionable value

Emphasizes the indisputable value, shifting from "importance" to "value".

Critical nature

Highlights the critical aspect, altering the noun to "nature" for a slightly different focus.

Unmatched relevance

Focuses on relevance as the key aspect of importance.

Absolute necessity

Shifts the focus to requirement rather than just value.

Undeniable magnitude

Emphasizes the scale and impact of something important.

Vital essence

Uses more abstract language to convey essentiality.

FAQs

How can I use "sheer importance" in a sentence?

Use "sheer importance" to emphasize the fundamental and undeniable significance of something. For example, "The "sheer importance" of education in societal development cannot be overstated."

What are some alternatives to "sheer importance"?

You can use alternatives like "paramount importance", "utter significance", or "absolute necessity" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "sheer" to describe importance?

"Sheer" is appropriate when you want to emphasize that the importance stems from the fundamental nature or scale of something, as opposed to other factors like strategic value or popularity. Consider its use to underscore "utmost significance".

Is "sheer importance" formal or informal?

"Sheer importance" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but consider the audience and the overall tone of your writing. In highly formal contexts, you might opt for alternatives like "absolute necessity", but generally, "sheer importance" is acceptable.