How to use "significant impact"

What Does "significant impact" Mean?

• The collocation "significant impact" refers to a considerable or important effect, influence, or consequence. It implies that something has made a noticeable and often lasting change.
• The meaning is compositional, meaning the individual words contribute directly to the overall meaning. "Significant" means important or noteworthy, and "impact" refers to the effect or influence.
• The register is neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, business, and journalistic writing, as well as formal conversations.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: adjective + noun (i.e., "significant" + "impact"). It typically functions as the object of a verb like have, make, cause, or feel.
• Typical objects, complements, or prepositions that follow: "significant impact on something," "significant impact in a field," "significant impact for someone." The most common preposition is on.
• The components cannot be separated; "significant" directly modifies "impact."
• What sounds unnatural: Using a weak or inappropriate adjective (e.g., "small impact," when a large effect is intended, or using an intensifier with "significant" like "very significant impact" which is redundant). Also, using the wrong preposition (e.g., "significant impact to" instead of "significant impact on").

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from significant impact on Ludwig.guru.

"Programmable thermostats can make a significant impact." — The Guardian

"The investigation had a significant impact." — The New York Times

"Demographic shifts have had a significant impact." — The Guardian

"Both have had a significant impact on our culture." — The Guardian - Books

"This, of course, has a significant impact on climate change." — The Guardian - Opinion

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/significant+impact

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
considerable effect	A general synonym, suitable for formal writing.
major influence	Emphasizes the power to shape or guide.
substantial impact	Similar in meaning, but may imply a greater degree of impact.
notable effect	Highlights that the effect is worthy of attention.
marked difference	Suggests a clear and easily observable change.
profound effect	Emphasizes a deep and far-reaching impact.
material impact	Often used in business/finance to indicate a financially relevant impact.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong preposition, such as "significant impact to" instead of "significant impact on."
• Redundantly using an intensifier with "significant," such as "very significant impact," as "significant" already implies importance.
• Learners might incorrectly use a less common adjective like 'big' or 'large' instead of 'significant' to describe the impact, which sounds less natural in formal contexts.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
significant impact	A considerable or important effect or influence.	adjective + noun	Neutral to formal

FAQs

Can the words in "significant impact" be separated?

No, the words in "significant impact" should not be separated. "Significant" is an adjective that directly modifies the noun "impact," and breaking this collocation sounds unnatural. It functions as a single unit of meaning.

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What's the difference between "significant impact" and "major influence"?

While both phrases indicate a strong effect, "significant impact" generally refers to the measurable or noticeable result of something. "Major influence," on the other hand, emphasizes the power to shape or guide something, suggesting a more direct and active role.

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Is it okay to say "big impact" instead of "significant impact"?

While "big impact" is understandable, it's generally considered less formal and less precise than "significant impact." In academic, business, or journalistic writing, "significant impact" is the preferred choice due to its more professional and nuanced tone. Using 'big' sounds less natural in formal contexts.