valuable to someone

USAGE SUMMARY

"valuable to someone" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when describing something that is precious or important to a specific person. Example: The diamond necklace was valuable to her, as it was a special gift from her grandmother.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The first thing to do, if you give something really valuable to someone really poor, is to ensure that they can hang on to it.

The Guardian

"If you were watching 'Antiques Roadshow,' and you wonder why somebody would pay something for such a small item -- it's valuable to someone".

The New York Times

Eccentricity, a form of originality, may be valuable to any artist, but it was particularly valuable to someone who defined himself as a Surrealist and took instruction from André Breton.

The New York Times - Books

Whatever the value to Crabbie's of a new three-year deal for the National, at some stage a horse race that is part of the fabric of British life is always likely to be more valuable to someone else.

The Guardian - Sport

However, he said he was unwilling to be specific about the nature of the security system, because such information would be valuable to someone who was attempting to break the security of the Atmel smart cards.

The New York Times

A backdoor into Votebuilder would only be valuable to someone attacking the DNC; most black-market activity focuses on exploitation of widely used software that can be used on multiple targets to make money until it is discovered and closed down.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It is valuable to have someone above the fray, but Obama, whether he likes it or not, is in it.

The New Yorker

"It's certainly valuable to have someone in place in Syria if and when the tribunal issue is going to blow up," said Paul Salem, the director of the Carnegie Endowment's Middle East Center, in Beirut.

The New York Times

Valuable to who? Someone whose judgment I respect, most often.

TechCrunch

As it stands, it's better and more valuable to let someone pay for said trips and get a good story than sit them out and get information second-hand.

TechCrunch

Or is it more valuable to activate someone like Meb Keflezighi (30K Instagram followers), one of the most successful marathon runners in the world?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "valuable to someone", specify why it is valuable to ensure clarity. For example, instead of just saying "the information was valuable to someone", explain that "the information was valuable to researchers studying the topic".

Common error

Avoid using "valuable to someone" when you actually mean "valuable in general". If the value isn't specific to an individual, consider using phrases like "generally valuable" or "inherently valuable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "valuable to someone" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied or stated noun, indicating that something holds worth, significance, or usefulness from a particular individual's perspective. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "valuable to someone" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating that something possesses worth or significance from a particular person's viewpoint. As Ludwig highlights, its usage spans across diverse contexts, predominantly in news, media, and scientific domains. While the phrase is suitable for many scenarios, ensure that the recipient's perspective is clear. Avoid overgeneralization by using more appropriate phrases such as "generally valuable" when the value is universal rather than individual-specific.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

helpful to someone

Replaces "valuable" with "helpful", focusing on assistance rather than inherent worth.

useful to someone

Substitutes "valuable" with "useful", highlighting practicality and utility.

significant to someone

Replaces "valuable" with "significant", emphasizing importance or consequence.

precious to someone

Substitutes "valuable" with "precious", underscoring emotional or sentimental worth.

worthwhile to someone

Replaces "valuable" with "worthwhile", suggesting the effort or cost is justified.

beneficial to someone

Changes "valuable" to "beneficial", emphasizing the positive effects or advantages.

relevant to someone

Replaces "valuable" with "relevant", focusing on the pertinence or applicability.

important to someone

Substitutes "valuable" with "important", highlighting the level of consideration or priority.

meaningful to someone

Replaces "valuable" with "meaningful", emphasizing personal significance and impact.

priceless to someone

Substitutes "valuable" with "priceless", underscoring the unique or irreplaceable nature of the value.

FAQs

How can I use "valuable to someone" in a sentence?

Use "valuable to someone" to indicate that something has worth or significance from a particular person's perspective. For example, "The old photograph was "valuable to someone" as it captured a precious memory of their childhood".

What's a good alternative to "valuable to someone"?

Alternatives include "useful to someone", "helpful to someone", or "significant to someone", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "valuable for someone" or "valuable to someone"?

"Valuable to someone" is generally preferred. "Valuable for someone" can imply suitability, whereas "valuable to someone" implies worth or importance from that person's perspective.

What's the difference between "valuable to someone" and "important to someone"?

While similar, "valuable to someone" emphasizes worth or utility, while "important to someone" emphasizes the degree of significance or consideration given. You might say something is "important to someone" because of its emotional value, even if it isn't traditionally valuable.