Cool MateImportant vs Of national importance
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Important
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Of national importance
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Of national importanceMost common: Important
| Important | Of national importance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpɔːtnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpɔːrtnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //əv ˈnæʃənl ɪmˈpɔːtəns//🇺🇸 //əv ˈnæʃənəl ɪmˈpɔrtəns// |
| Meaning | Something that matters a lot. | Very important for a country |
| Example | It's important to drink enough water every day. | The new law addresses issues of national importance, such as healthcare and education. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, for, to, be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, for, to | matters of national importance, issues of national importance, events of national importance |
| Antonyms | unimportant, trivial, insignificant | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'unimportant'—'not important' is the opposite., Using with nouns incorrectly—'important' only describes nouns, not verbs., Overusing—try varying language with synonyms to improve vocabulary. | Often confused with 'of local importance', which is less significant., Misused in informal contexts where a simpler phrase would work., Sometimes incorrectly preceded by 'a' when it should be used as is. |
| Usage notes | Use 'important' for things that have significance or impact. It's appropriate in formal and informal contexts, but in very casual conversation, words like 'big deal' might be more appropriate. | Used in formal discussions, reports, or speeches to emphasize the significance of an issue or event for a nation. Avoid in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Important vs Of national importance
What's the difference between Important and Of national importance?
Important: Something that matters a lot. Of national importance: Very important for a country
Which is more formal: Important and Of national importance?
Of national importance is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Important and Of national importance?
Important is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Important: It's important to drink enough water every day. Of national importance: The new law addresses issues of national importance, such as healthcare and education.
Can I use Important and Of national importance interchangeably?
Not always. Important and Of national importance are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.