was of great help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was of great help" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are describing something or someone that was of great help or assistance to you. For example: "The advice my professor gave me was of great help when I was writing my essay."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

This fascination with geometry and with mechanical models continued throughout his career and was of great help in his subsequent research.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A Japanese prisoner of warnamed Kobayashi was of great help to the Americans at a base in the Marianas during the war.

The New Yorker

The mouse genome was of great help to Celera in annotating its human sequence and pinpointing the location of human genes.

The New York Times - Science

The previous elucidation of the secondary structure was of great help in designing the ribozymes directed against both strands.

Plosone

This direct approach was of great help for amplifying mitochondrial genomes in the present study.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The first author's knowledge about the care context was of great help in this process since interpretations of the narratives could be made in light of this experience.

BMC Nursing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

While some found them to be of great help, others found them not especially helpful.

BMC Family Practice

"They can be of great help".

The Guardian

"That would be of great help," the jury foreman said.

The New York Times - Sports

This is another place where a good accountant can be of great help.

The New York Times

Oxitec, at this very moment, is not in the position to be of great help.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was of great help", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what benefited from the assistance. This enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "was of great help" without specifying what specifically benefited from the assistance. Be precise in identifying the beneficiary of the help to ensure the sentence's clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was of great help" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject by indicating that it provided significant assistance or benefit. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was of great help" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing that someone or something provided significant assistance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples demonstrating its applicability across diverse contexts. While often found in scientific and news-related content, it maintains a neutral to formal tone suitable for various writing styles. Alternatives such as "proved highly beneficial" or "was instrumental in" can offer subtle variations in emphasis, but "was of great help" remains a versatile and reliable choice for acknowledging assistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatly assisted

Uses a more direct verb to describe the action of helping.

was instrumental in

Highlights the crucial and essential nature of the help provided.

proved invaluable

Emphasizes the high value and importance of the help.

proved highly beneficial

Emphasizes the positive outcome or benefit resulting from the help.

offered crucial assistance

Focuses on the importance of the help in achieving a particular outcome.

offered substantial support

Highlights the act of giving support and the magnitude of that support.

supported significantly

Emphasizes the magnitude of the support given.

played a key role

Focuses on the importance of the help in achieving a particular outcome.

was very supportive

Describes the nature of support that was of great help.

contributed significantly

Emphasizes the impact and importance of the contribution made.

FAQs

How can I use "was of great help" in a sentence?

You can use "was of great help" to describe something or someone that provided significant assistance. For instance, "The detailed instructions "was of great help" in assembling the furniture."

What are some alternatives to "was of great help"?

Alternatives include "proved highly beneficial", "was instrumental in", or "greatly assisted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "was a great help" or "was of great help"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "Was of great help" is slightly more formal, while "was a great help" is more conversational.

How does "was of great help" compare to "was helpful"?

"Was of great help" emphasizes a higher degree of assistance than simply saying something "was helpful". It implies a more significant contribution or impact.