what a colossal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what a colossal" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express amazement or emphasis regarding something large or significant, often followed by a noun. Example: "What a colossal mistake that was, costing the company millions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

What a colossal failure!

Independent

What a colossal waste of time almost on par with "reaffirming" our national motto.

The New York Times

It is impossible to assess Obama's first year without keeping front and center in one's mind what a colossal mess — or really what a colossal collection of colossal messes — he inherited from the Bush administration when he came in.

The New Yorker

Had I known what a colossal failure this lingerie gift would have been, I never would have tried it.

The New York Times

How often have you sat in team meetings complaining to yourself, "What a colossal waste of time.

Harvard Business Review

I've lived on farms and know what a colossal amount of work, stress and paperwork is involved in looking after livestock.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Reading through Green's entry for punk brings home what a truly colossal undertaking slang lexicography can be.

The New York Times - Books

But even the epidemic of text pestering and spurious promises made by the claims companies can't mask what was a colossal mis-selling exercise by the banks.

The Guardian - Business

"He strives to be utterly inconspicuous," said Chief Judge Michael B. Mukasey of Federal District Court, "and succeeds in doing so, until you get the final product, at which point you realize what an absolutely colossal effort it must have been.

The New York Times

Miliband needs to call this what it is: a colossal rip-off of the real middle class – and a guarantee that the middle class will painfully wither if it carries on.

Independent

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing games was stunning, costing approximately $100m and conceived by the director Zhang Yimou not as a live happening to be captured by television cameras, but as a screen artefact, requiring thousands and thousands of people in what was effectively a colossal outdoor studio.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a colossal" to emphasize the exceptional size, extent, or impact of something. It's suitable for expressing strong feelings or highlighting a significant characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using "what a colossal" for trivial matters; reserve it for situations genuinely deserving of such strong emphasis. Overuse can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a colossal" primarily functions as an exclamatory expression, typically used to emphasize the magnitude or significance of something. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently followed by a noun to highlight its extent or impact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what a colossal" is an exclamatory expression used to emphasize the magnitude or significance of something, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's grammatically correct and common, particularly in News & Media, according to Ludwig's analysis of numerous sources. While versatile, remember that "colossal" is strong, so save it for things that are genuinely very big, and also make sure to review some of the alternatives, such as "what an enormous", for some specific situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what an enormous

Replaces 'colossal' with 'enormous', focusing on size in a slightly less formal way.

what a huge

Substitutes 'colossal' with 'huge', conveying a similar sense of great size or extent.

what a monumental

Replaces 'colossal' with 'monumental', implying something of great historical or cultural significance.

what a gigantic

Substitutes 'colossal' with 'gigantic', emphasizing immense size.

what a massive

Replaces 'colossal' with 'massive', highlighting the substantial or weighty nature of something.

what an utter

Uses 'utter' to express a complete or extreme quality, shifting focus from size to degree.

what a complete

Emphasizes totality or comprehensiveness, offering a slightly different nuance than 'colossal'.

what a total

Similar to 'complete', but with a more informal tone, highlighting the overall nature of something.

what a tremendous

Replaces 'colossal' with 'tremendous', focusing on the impressive or remarkable quality.

what a striking

Substitutes 'colossal' with 'striking', emphasizing the noticeable or remarkable impact.

FAQs

How can I use "what a colossal" in a sentence?

Use "what a colossal" to express amazement or disappointment about something extremely large or significant. For example, "What a colossal waste of time this meeting was!"

What phrases can I use instead of "what a colossal"?

You can use alternatives like "what an enormous", "what a huge", or "what a tremendous" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "what a colossal" in formal writing?

While "what a colossal" is grammatically correct, it can sound less formal due to its exclamatory nature. Consider using more neutral alternatives in formal writing, such as "the significant" or "the substantial".

What's the difference between "what a colossal mistake" and "what a big mistake"?

"What a colossal mistake" implies a mistake of very large proportions with significant consequences, whereas "what a big mistake" is more general and can refer to mistakes of varying sizes. "Colossal" is more emphatic.