very great

USAGE SUMMARY

"very great" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express something is of the highest degree or has been increased to an extreme, for example: "The success of the business has become very great over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is very great disillusionment.

Independent

The prize is very great.

The Guardian

The pain was very great".

The Guardian

We were very great friends.

The Guardian

"The illegitimacy is very great," she said.

The New York Times

This President is very great on democracy.

The New Yorker

Everybody was very, very great to us.

The New York Times

Therefore I shall make very great efforts.

The New Yorker

Humidity is very great in summer.

The New Yorker

"Clarence Carter is a very great man.

The New Yorker

"The potential for disaster is very great".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very great" to emphasize a significant quality or degree, but be mindful of potential for stronger, more specific alternatives depending on your intended nuance.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "very great" can make writing sound less sophisticated. Consider using more precise and impactful vocabulary to enhance clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very great" primarily functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to amplify the degree or extent of a quality, enhancing its impact within a sentence. Examples include "The pain was very great" and "This President is very great on democracy."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very great" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase that serves to intensify the meaning of "great". As Ludwig AI validates, it is appropriate for general use in English writing. The phrase is especially common in news and media contexts, but also appears in academic and scientific writing. While effective, consider using stronger, more descriptive synonyms to improve the sophistication of your writing and prevent overuse. While this phrase is indeed, as the AI notes, fit for use, remember to ensure its register suits the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely exceptional

This emphasizes the authentic and unusual quality of the subject.

remarkably impressive

This highlights the admirable or noteworthy qualities.

decidedly outstanding

This phrase stresses the distinctiveness and superiority of something.

tremendously important

This phrase stresses the significant role something plays.

immensely influential

This emphasizes the power to affect something or someone.

exceptionally significant

This alternative emphasizes the importance and impact of something.

singularly remarkable

This suggests the subject is particularly worthy of attention or notice.

extraordinarily large

This focuses on the size or extent of something.

hugely successful

This refers to something with a very positive outcome.

profoundly meaningful

This alternative is more solemn, suggesting the experience is deeply felt and holds great significance.

FAQs

How can I use "very great" in a sentence?

"Very great" is used to intensify an adjective, indicating a high degree of something. For example, "The potential for disaster is "very great"" or "He was a "very great" man".

What can I say instead of "very great"?

You can use alternatives like "exceptionally significant", "tremendously important", or "remarkably impressive" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "very great" or "greatly"?

"Very great" is an adjective phrase used to modify a noun, whereas "greatly" is an adverb used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Their usage depends on the grammatical structure of the sentence.

What's the difference between "very great" and "extremely great"?

While both intensify the adjective "great", "extremely great" suggests a higher degree of intensity than "very great". The choice depends on the desired emphasis.