what is significant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what is significant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking for clarification or emphasis on the importance of a particular point or detail. Example: "In this study, what is significant about the results we obtained?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is significant about it?

The New York Times

What is significant about his story?

The New Yorker

"What is significant is Cardiff's performance,"Martínez said.

The Guardian - Sport

"What is significant is what is made of that fact.

The New York Times

What is significant this time is who has joined Abdel Fatah in prison.

The Guardian

What is significant is that more men actually go on to take their lives".

The Guardian

What is significant is determining the ability of potential foes to develop such devices themselves.

The New York Times - Tech

It is hard to know what is significant and what is accidental.

The Guardian

What is significant to you about the adoption of the euro?

The New York Times

We are doing more interpretation now, telling people what is significant, what might have been different".

The New York Times - Arts

"So what is significant is that [Ibrahim] could announce this publicly.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what is significant" to introduce the core point of an analysis or discussion, setting the stage for deeper exploration and providing context for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "what is significant" in overly simple or obvious contexts where simpler phrasing would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what is significant" functions primarily as an interrogative clause used to introduce a point of emphasis or to elicit information about the importance or relevance of a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what is significant" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to highlight the importance of a particular aspect or detail. The usage is widespread across various domains, including news, science, and encyclopedias, indicating its versatility and general acceptance. While "what is significant" is a valuable tool, it's crucial to employ it judiciously, avoiding overuse in simplistic contexts. Alternatives such as "what is important" or "what matters" can offer variety and prevent redundancy. In essence, "what is significant" is a powerful phrase when used thoughtfully to draw attention to key information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is important

Replaces "significant" with a more common synonym, focusing on the aspect of importance.

what matters

Shifts the focus to the element of consequence or relevance.

what is relevant

Emphasizes the pertinence or applicability of something.

what is crucial

Highlights the critical or essential nature of something.

what is essential

Similar to "crucial", stressing the necessity of something.

what is key

Indicates the pivotal or central aspect of something.

what stands out

Focuses on the noticeable or prominent feature.

what is noteworthy

Highlights the aspect deserving of attention or recognition.

what is of consequence

Stresses the importance or impact of something.

what bears importance

Similar to "of consequence", but with a slightly more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "what is significant" in a sentence?

You can use "what is significant" to introduce an important aspect, detail, or implication of a topic. For example, "What is significant about this discovery is its potential impact on renewable energy." Ensure that the subject to which significance is attributed is clear from the context.

What are some alternatives to "what is significant"?

Alternatives include phrases like "what is important", "what matters", or "what is relevant". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "what is significant" or "what is important"?

Both "what is significant" and "what is important" are grammatically correct, but "what is significant" often implies a deeper level of impact or consequence beyond mere importance. The choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of emphasis.

How can I avoid overuse of the phrase "what is significant"?

To avoid overuse, vary your phrasing by using synonyms like "what is noteworthy", "what is crucial", or rephrase your sentences to emphasize the subject directly rather than the significance (e.g., "This discovery has a major impact" instead of "what is significant is its impact").