How to use "major consequence"

What Does "major consequence" Mean?

• The collocation "major consequence" refers to a significant, important, or serious outcome or result of something. It implies that the consequence has a substantial impact.
• The meaning is compositional, as "major" simply modifies the noun "consequence" to indicate its importance.
• The register is typically formal or neutral, often used in academic, professional, or news contexts.

How to Use It

• The grammatical pattern is adjective + noun. "Major" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "consequence."
• Typical objects or complements following "major consequence" often describe what the consequence is or of what the consequence resulted. Common prepositions include "of," "for," "as a," and "to."
• The components cannot be separated, as "major" directly modifies "consequence."
• It sounds unnatural to use a weaker adjective (e.g., "big consequence") in formal contexts, or to use an inappropriate preposition (e.g., "major consequence on" instead of "major consequence of").

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from major consequence on Ludwig.guru.

"Marikana became the first major consequence." — The Guardian

"It is of major consequence to the NHL, as it would be for any league." — The New York Times

"One major consequence of science's starvation is a disincentive for the college-educated to pursue a career in science." — The New York Times

"The major consequence is going to be the traffic numbers, like in Germany and Belgium where it fell through the floor." — The Guardian

"A major consequence of lactate secretion is microenvironmental acidification." — Clinical and Translational Medicine

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/major+consequence

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
significant impact	Emphasizes the effect or influence.
serious repercussions	Highlights the negative or adverse effects.
substantial effect	Similar to "significant impact," but perhaps slightly less formal.
material effect	Used to describe a consequence that is important or relevant, often in a legal or financial context.
grave implications	Suggests a very serious or worrying consequence.
far-reaching effects	Highlights consequences that have broad or widespread impact.
profound impact	Emphasizes a deep and significant effect.

Common Mistakes

• Using an incorrect preposition, for example, saying "major consequence on" instead of "major consequence of."
• Using a weaker adjective like "big" or "large" when "major" is more appropriate for formal or academic contexts.
• Using the phrase in an informal context where a simpler word like 'result' would be more appropriate.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
major consequence	A significant or important result or outcome.	Adjective + Noun	Formal/Neutral

FAQs

Can the words "major" and "consequence" be separated in the phrase "major consequence"?

No, the words "major" and "consequence" cannot be separated. "Major" directly modifies "consequence" to specify the degree of importance, so they must remain together as a fixed collocation.

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How is "major consequence" different from "significant result"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "major consequence" is generally used in more formal or serious contexts, emphasizing the gravity of the outcome. "Significant result" is a broader term that can be used in both formal and informal situations.

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Is it correct to say "big consequence" instead of "major consequence"?

While "big consequence" is understandable, "major consequence" is the more appropriate choice in formal writing and speech. Using "major" lends a more professional and impactful tone, especially in academic or business settings, where clarity and precision are valued over informal language.