evaluative phrase · neutral
What matters is
UK/wɒt ˈmætəz ɪz/US/wʌt ˈmætərz ɪz/WHAT·mat·ters·is
Used to emphasise the most important point: 'the important thing is...'.
Examples
“What matters is how we respond to challenges, not who caused them.”
“What matters is that students make steady progress.”
“What matters is the quality of education rather than the quantity of schools.”
Band 8 sentence
“What matters is whether these policies can be implemented effectively at local level.”
Collocations
- What matters is + clause
- What matters most is ...
Word family
Common mistakes
What matters are the results.→What matters is the results. (or) What matters are the results if results is plural focus: Actually correct: 'What matters are the results.'
What matter is students happy.→What matters is students' happiness. (or) What matters is that students are happy.
Say it for a higher band
5It is important that→6The point is→7+What matters is
Synonyms
The key point is
Easily confused
The point is
“The point is we must start the project now.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Emphasis & conclusion
Learn it with its set