to a great extent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to a great extent' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the degree to which something is true or applies. For example, "Technology has changed our lives to a great extent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Art is, to a great extent, craft.

The New Yorker

And to a great extent did.

The Guardian - Books

"To a great extent it's ready to go," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

That's how epidemics have been overcome, to a great extent.

The New York Times

Leadership is to a great extent about communication.

The Guardian

To a great extent, the other networks joined in.

The New Yorker

What these fans project to a great extent is jealousy.

The New York Times - Sports

And to a great extent it nicely does.

The New York Times - Books

To a great extent, it's a company of equals".

The New Yorker

To a great extent, that is due to the middlemen.

The New Yorker

Nehru has westernized the Indian government to a great extent.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to a great extent", ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates what is being affected or influenced. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "to a great extent" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your text sound repetitive. Consider replacing it with stronger, more precise adverbs like "largely" or "substantially" to enhance conciseness and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to a great extent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the degree to which something is true or applies. It quantifies the impact or influence being described. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to a great extent" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to express that something is true or applicable to a significant degree, though not entirely. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and widely used in various contexts like news, science and encyclopedias. While acceptable in most writing, it's important to consider stronger alternatives like "largely" or "substantially" in formal contexts to avoid repetitiveness. Always ensure clear sentence structure to specify what is being influenced when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to a large degree

Replaces 'great' with 'large' while maintaining the meaning.

to a considerable degree

Rephrases the original with 'degree' instead of 'extent'.

largely

Single-word adverb conveying a similar sense of magnitude.

mostly

Implies that something is true or happens in the majority of cases.

for the most part

Idiomatic phrase implying that something is generally true.

primarily

Indicates the main or most important aspect of something.

substantially

Highlights a considerable amount or degree.

considerably

Similar to substantially, but may suggest a more noticeable impact.

significantly

Emphasizes the notable impact or influence.

appreciably

Suggests that something is noticeable or measurable.

FAQs

How can I use "to a great extent" in a sentence?

Use "to a great extent" to indicate that something is true or applicable to a significant degree but not entirely. For example, "The success of the project depended "to a great extent" on the team's collaboration".

What are some alternatives to "to a great extent"?

You can use alternatives such as "largely", "mostly", or "primarily" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "to a great extent" and "to a large extent"?

While both phrases are similar, "to a large extent" might imply a broader scope or scale, whereas "to a great extent" emphasizes the degree or intensity. In most contexts, they are interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "to a great extent" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "to a great extent" when you want to acknowledge that something is considerably true or influential, but not exclusively so. Avoid overuse in very formal contexts where more concise alternatives might be preferable.