How to use "notable achievement"

What Does "notable achievement" Mean?

  • Meaning of the collocation or phrasal verb

"Notable achievement" refers to a significant or remarkable accomplishment. It signifies something worthy of attention and recognition due to its importance or impact.

  • Whether meaning is compositional or semi-idiomatic

The meaning is compositional. "Notable" means worthy of attention, and "achievement" means something accomplished successfully. The combination simply amplifies the significance of the accomplishment.

  • Register: formal / informal / neutral

The register is neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts.

How to Use It

  • Grammatical pattern: verb + noun, verb + particle, adjective + noun, etc.

The grammatical pattern is adjective + noun.

  • Typical objects, complements, or prepositions that follow

It typically functions as the object of verbs like "be," "consider," "regard," or as part of a longer noun phrase. It can be followed by prepositions like "in" (e.g., notable achievement in science) or "for" (e.g., notable achievement for the company).

  • Can the components be separated? (for phrasal verbs)

Since it is a collocation (adjective + noun), the components cannot be separated.

  • What sounds unnatural: wrong verb, wrong preposition, wrong object

Using a weaker adjective like "good" or "big" instead of "notable" diminishes the impact. Incorrect prepositions (e.g., "notable achievement on") or nonsensical objects (e.g., "notable achievement the weather") would also sound unnatural.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from notable achievement on Ludwig.guru.

"It is, in the annals of counterinsurgency, a notable achievement." — The New York Times - Magazine

"If Mr Obama leaves behind a region of mini Turkeys, that would be a notable achievement." — The Economist

"Perhaps his most notable achievement was finding and proposing the names for Coelophysis and Monoclonius." — Encyclopedia Britannica

"Durk's most notable achievement during the Koch years was his investigation of cigarette tax fraud." — The New Yorker

"The re-establishing of Catalan as an official language is arguably the separatists' most notable achievement so far." — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/notable+achievement

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase Context
significant accomplishment A direct synonym, slightly more formal.
remarkable feat Emphasizes the skill or difficulty involved.
outstanding success Focuses on the positive outcome.
major milestone Highlights progress towards a larger goal.
considerable accomplishment Similar to 'significant accomplishment'.
triumph Implies overcoming great obstacles.
breakthrough Suggests a sudden advancement or discovery.

Common Mistakes

  • 2–3 errors: wrong particle/preposition, wrong verb choice, separability errors, wrong register

Using incorrect prepositions (e.g., "notable achievement on") is a common error. Since it's a collocation, trying to separate "notable" and "achievement" would also be incorrect. A common mistake is using a weaker or less appropriate adjective like 'good' or 'big' when 'notable' emphasizes the importance or significance of the achievement.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression Meaning Grammatical Pattern Register
notable achievement A significant and worthy accomplishment. Adjective + Noun Neutral to Formal

FAQs

Can the words "notable" and "achievement" be separated in a sentence?

No, "notable achievement" is a collocation, meaning the words work best together and shouldn't be separated by other words. You can modify the phrase with adjectives or adverbs (e.g., "a truly notable achievement"), but the core collocation should remain intact.


How does "notable achievement" differ from "good achievement"?

While "good achievement" simply indicates that something was done well, "notable achievement" emphasizes the significance and impact of the accomplishment. "Notable" implies that the achievement is worthy of attention and recognition due to its importance or exceptional quality.


Is it correct to say "big achievement" instead of "notable achievement"?

While "big achievement" isn't grammatically incorrect, it's often less precise and impactful than "notable achievement." "Big" can refer to size or scale, whereas "notable" specifically highlights the importance or significance of the accomplishment, making it a more appropriate choice in many contexts.

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