significant advance

USAGE SUMMARY

"significant advance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a major breakthrough or development, often in a certain field. For example, "The discovery of a new technology represented a significant advance for renewable energy sources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a significant advance.

MIT Technology Review

This is the significant advance.

The Economist

underwater -- represents a significant advance in submarine warfare.

The New York Times

Mental health campaigners welcomed the promise as a significant advance.

The Guardian

The most significant advance, however, lies in video on demand.

The New York Times

The most significant advance, though, came from outside the park.

The New Yorker

The technology represented a significant advance in submarine warfare.

The New York Times

But a closer look reveals a significant advance: hey, no wires.

The New York Times - Tech

A win for Smith would be a significant advance towards a WBC belt.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Dr. Goldstein, who saved Joshua Diaz, says Masimo's product was a significant advance.

The New York Times

This new study marks a significant advance toward the development of this strategy".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "significant advance" to highlight substantial improvements, breakthroughs, or milestones in a specific field. Ensure the context clearly demonstrates the impact and importance of the advancement.

Common error

Avoid using "significant advance" to describe trivial or incremental changes. Reserve this phrase for developments that have a considerable impact or represent a substantial step forward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant advance" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "advance". It typically acts as a subject complement or object, indicating a major improvement or breakthrough. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "significant advance" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to describe a major improvement or breakthrough. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for use in various contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Academic sources, indicating its widespread acceptance in formal and professional communications. While alternatives like "major breakthrough" or "remarkable improvement" exist, "significant advance" maintains a neutral yet impactful tone, suitable for highlighting substantial progress in a variety of fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major breakthrough

Replaces "advance" with "breakthrough" to emphasize the sudden and impactful nature of the progress.

notable development

Substitutes "significant" with "notable" and "advance" with "development", highlighting the importance of the progress.

remarkable improvement

Uses "remarkable" instead of "significant" and "improvement" in place of "advance" to stress the positive change.

substantial progress

Employs "substantial" to emphasize the degree of advancement and replaces "advance" with "progress".

groundbreaking achievement

Replaces "advance" with "achievement", suggesting a pioneering accomplishment.

important step forward

Replaces "significant advance" with a more descriptive phrase indicating progression.

key innovation

Focuses on the innovative aspect of the progress, substituting "advance" with "innovation".

meaningful leap

Uses "meaningful leap" to convey a considerable and impactful advancement.

radical shift

Indicates a fundamental change or advancement, replacing "advance" with "shift".

transformative step

Highlights the transformative nature of the advancement, changing "advance" to "step".

FAQs

How can I use "significant advance" in a sentence?

You can use "significant advance" to describe a major improvement or breakthrough in a particular field. For example, "The development of this new technology represents a "significant advance" in medical treatment".

What are some alternatives to "significant advance"?

Alternatives to "significant advance" include "major breakthrough", "notable development", or "remarkable improvement" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "significant advance"?

It is appropriate to use "significant advance" when referring to a development that marks a substantial improvement or a major step forward in a particular area. It should be used when the advancement has a notable impact or represents a considerable progress.

What is the difference between "significant advance" and "incremental improvement"?

"Significant advance" refers to a major breakthrough or substantial progress, while "incremental improvement" describes a series of small, gradual changes. A "significant advance" represents a major leap forward, while incremental improvements are more about continuous refinement.