Say it like this
- Moving to the cloud was a real paradigm shift for us.
- Generative AI is a paradigm shift in how we write code.
- Calling a new button a paradigm shift is a bit much.
Use it at work
Describing a big change
- This is a real paradigm shift for our industry.
- It changed how we think about deployments.
Being sceptical
- I wouldn't call it a paradigm shift.
- It's a nice improvement, not a revolution.
Plainer options
- This is a fundamental change.
- This changes how we work.
Don't say this
Save paradigm shift for basic changes in thinking, not small updates.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| paradigm shift | a basic change in thinking | formal, strategic | industry-level change |
| game changer | something with a big impact | informal | products, ideas |
| pivot | a change of business direction | startups | strategy changes |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Which change best fits the phrase 'paradigm shift'?
2. For many teams, AI coding assistants are a paradigm _______ in how software gets written.
3. Which sentence uses 'paradigm shift' naturally?
4. Rewrite to sound less like hype: 'Our new settings page is a paradigm shift for users.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Moving to the cloud was a real paradigm shift for us."
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More about paradigm shift
Real examples(3)
- in a strategy talk
"Remote-first hiring was a paradigm shift: suddenly we could hire in 20 countries."
- in a tech blog post
"Serverless was a paradigm shift. We stopped thinking about machines and started thinking about functions."
- being sceptical in Slack
"It's a nice feature, but I wouldn't call it a paradigm shift."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Overusing "paradigm shift" makes claims sound like hype. Use it only for truly fundamental changes.
- ✕A paradigm change✓A paradigm shift
"Paradigm shift" is the fixed phrase.
- ✕We paradigm-shifted our process.✓We completely changed our process.
It is a noun phrase, not a verb.
Other forms(2)
- paradigm noun
"The old paradigm was one release per year."
- paradigm shifts plural
"The industry has seen several paradigm shifts."
Often used with(3)
- a real paradigm shift · a genuine fundamental change
- represent a paradigm shift · formal writing
- paradigm shift in how · the change in thinking
Similar words(3)
- game changer · informal, more common
- fundamental change · plain and formal
- sea change · formal, literary
Opposites(3)
- incremental change
- small tweak
- business as usual
Questions(4)
- What does paradigm shift mean?
- A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in how people think about or do something.
- What is an example of a paradigm shift in tech?
- The move from buying servers to renting cloud computing, or from desktop software to apps in the browser.
- Is paradigm shift a buzzword?
- It can be. It's a real idea, but it is often used in marketing for changes that aren't fundamental.
- How do you pronounce paradigm?
- Say "PAIR-uh-dime". The g is silent.
