was relevant to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was relevant to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something had significance or importance in relation to a particular subject or context. Example: "The research findings were relevant to the ongoing debate about climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The content was relevant to today.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That was relevant to 0.1% of the population.

The Guardian - Sport

They were using a sound that was relevant to them.

The New York Times

"I wasn't sure it was relevant to us," she said.

The New York Times

Although some of the e-mail was relevant to the investigation, most of it was not.

The New York Times - Tech

Icac said it did not believe the high court decision was relevant to those appeal proceedings.

The Guardian

"I wasn't submitting this evidence because it was relevant to the decision," he said.

The Guardian

I had information that I believed was relevant to his inquiry.

The Guardian

The Bush campaign said that none of that was relevant to the Bechac family.

The New York Times

But I just found it was a different angle and something that was relevant to me.

The Guardian - Music

"We didn't think it was relevant to the AWE offering," Mr. Armstrong said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "was relevant to" with stronger verbs or more specific adjectives to enhance clarity and impact in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was relevant to" as a generic placeholder. Instead, specify how something was relevant or use a more descriptive phrase that captures the nature of the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was relevant to" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, indicating that something had significance or a connection to a particular topic or context. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

23%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was relevant to" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to denote significance or connection within a specific context. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is common across various domains, particularly in news, academia, and science. While versatile, it's advisable to ensure clarity by specifying how something is relevant and considering stronger alternatives to enhance your writing. The frequency and authoritative source usage indicate its reliability and acceptance in formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was applicable to

Replaces "relevant" with "applicable", emphasizing a direct and suitable connection.

was pertinent to

Substitutes "relevant" with "pertinent", highlighting a direct and important relationship to the matter at hand.

was germane to

Uses "germane" instead of "relevant", indicating that something is closely or significantly related.

was related to

A more general term, indicating a connection or association without necessarily implying importance.

was connected to

Similar to "was related to", but emphasizes a link or joining of two things.

had a bearing on

Indicates that something influenced or affected something else.

was significant for

Highlights the importance or consequence of something for a particular context.

was important for

Stresses the value or necessity of something in relation to a particular matter.

was consequential for

Indicates that something had important results or effects on something else.

had implications for

Suggests that something had potential future effects or consequences on something else.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "was relevant to"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "was pertinent to", "was germane to", or "was applicable to". These options offer a more sophisticated and precise way to express relevance.

How can I use "was relevant to" in a sentence?

Use "was relevant to" to connect a subject to a specific context or situation, indicating that the subject had importance or significance in that context. For example, "The evidence presented was relevant to the case".

What's the difference between "was relevant to" and "was related to"?

"Was relevant to" implies a direct and important connection to the matter at hand, whereas "was related to" simply indicates a connection or association without necessarily implying significance. Relevance suggests importance; relation suggests only a link.

What are some alternatives to "was relevant to" that aren't as formal?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "was connected to", "had a bearing on", or "mattered to". These options convey a sense of importance or connection in a more casual manner.