🎓 Study English中文版
What does “relevant” mean?
relevant (to sth)
/ˈreləvənt/
＝ connected with what you are discussing, and useful for it
Used constantly in essays, research, projects and CVs. “Relevant” means more than “connected”: it suggests something is useful for your purpose now. If a teacher writes “not relevant”, you have gone off topic.
In plain English
If you are writing about air pollution in Hong Kong, a report on London traffic is probably not relevant. Data from the Environmental Protection Department is very relevant.
The key idea of relevant is that something links to the question in front of you and helps answer it. Content that does not link to the question is irrelevant, however well written.
The preposition is always to: relevant to the question, relevant to my project.
5 meanings of relevant
- relevant to somethingconnected with something and useful for itCommon
Only include sources that are relevant to your research question.
- irrelevantnot connected with the subject; off topicAcademic writing
This paragraph is interesting but irrelevant to the question.
- relevance (noun)how connected or useful something isAcademic writing
Explain the relevance of this case to Hong Kong.
- relevant experience (on a CV)experience that suits the job you are applying forEveryday
List your relevant work experience first.
- stay relevantto remain useful and up to dateEveryday
Libraries are adding study pods to stay relevant.
Sentence patterns
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| be relevant to sth / sb | Is this article relevant to our topic? |
| highly / directly relevant | The 2021 census data is highly relevant to your study. |
| the relevant information / authorities / section | Please read the relevant chapter before the tutorial. |
| irrelevant to sth | Your example from 1970s Japan is irrelevant to the question about today. |
| of little / no relevance (to sth) | The data is old and of little relevance now. |
Real-life examples
💻 Group project chat on WhatsApp
Jason: I found a long article on UK housing. Should I add it?
Mandy: Is it relevant to Hong Kong, though? Our question is about subdivided flats here.
Jason: Fair point. I’ll only use the part comparing rent levels.
👩🏫 A teacher’s comment on an essay
Good research, but paragraph 3 is not relevant to the question. Always link back to "the extent to which".
🎓 A summer internship application
Although I have not worked in finance, my role as society treasurer gave me relevant experience in budgeting.
Common mistakes
✗ This data is relevant with our topic.
✓ This data is relevant to our topic.
Use “relevant to”, not “relevant with”. Many students copy “related with”, but “related” also takes “to”.
✗ Please find the relative information attached.
✓ Please find the relevant information attached.
“Relative” means comparative, or a family member. The word for “connected and useful” is “relevant”.
✗ This point is unrelevant.
✓ This point is irrelevant.
The opposite is “irrelevant”, not “unrelevant” or “inrelevant”.
✗ I have many relevant experiences in teaching.
✓ I have a lot of relevant teaching experience.
When it means the work experience you have built up, “experience” is uncountable.
Before and after ✨
An essay body paragraph (topic: the impact of social media on teenagers), rewritten with Dictionify’s Polish: removed words are crossed out and new words are highlighted.
Social media was invented in 2004 by Facebook and it has many relative functions. Mark Zuckerberg is very rich. Social media is relevant with teenagers because they use it everyday.
Social media was invented in 2004 by Facebook and it has many relative functions. Mark Zuckerberg is very rich. Social media is highly relevant with teenagers because they use to teenagers’ lives: most Hong Kong secondary students check it everyday. every day. This constant use affects how much sleep they get and how they compare themselves with their peers.
- Cut the history of Facebook and how rich Zuckerberg is: this is irrelevant. The question asks about impact, not history.
- relative functions is the wrong word and relevant with the wrong preposition → highly relevant to teenagers’ lives. Also, the adverb is two words: every day.
- Each sentence now links back to the question (sleep, comparing with peers). That is what staying relevant means.
Similar and opposite phrases
| Phrase | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| related (to sth) | connected with something | Only says there is a link. “Relevant” also suggests usefulness for the current purpose. |
| pertinent | directly connected with the matter | More formal, often for questions or comments: a pertinent question. |
| applicable (to sth) | able to be used in a situation | Used when asking whether a rule or method fits a case. |
| to the point | short and focused on the main issue | Describes speech or writing that does not wander. |
Opposite: irrelevant (not connected with the subject); beside the point (not important to the main issue)
Quick quiz
Pick an answer to check it straight away.
Which sentence is correct?
Answer: B. The fixed pattern is “relevant to something”.
Your teacher writes “irrelevant” next to part of your essay. This means…
Answer: A. “Irrelevant” means not connected to the question. The content may be true but does not answer it.
You are applying for an accounting internship. What should your CV highlight most?
Answer: C. Experience linked to the job that proves your skills is relevant experience.
FAQ
What is the difference between “relevant” and “related”?
“Related” just means there is a link. “Relevant” means it fits your current question and is useful. A source can be related to your topic but, if it is too old or too general, not relevant to your research question.
How do I keep my essay relevant?
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that answers the question. After each paragraph ask, “Does this help answer the question?” Keep background short. End paragraphs by linking back to key words such as “the extent to which” or “impact on teenagers”.
How can I politely ask “Is this relevant?” in a group discussion?
Say “Is this relevant to our question?” or, more softly, “I’m not sure how this relates to our topic. Could you explain?” This raises your doubt and gives your groupmate a chance to explain.
What does “the relevant authorities” mean?
It means the government departments or bodies in charge of that matter. It is common in news and official writing, for example “The matter has been reported to the relevant authorities.”
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