a certain inclination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain inclination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific tendency or preference that someone has, often in a vague or general sense. Example: "She has a certain inclination towards artistic pursuits, often spending her weekends painting and visiting galleries."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"It's a tendency that I feel across Spain, a certain inclination to want to cancel anything related to Islamic Spanish history," he said.

The New York Times

Her failure to acquire either led to a certain "inclination to romance," as Elizabeth Hardwick observed in a 1984 piece about her friend.

The New Yorker

There inevitably exists a certain inclination angle between the actual laser plane and the ridge of the combined target.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

When a group of particles are ejected with a certain inclination, the ejection axis for the group can be defined by a rotation angle γ from the vertical axis (Fig. 2b).

Earth, Planets and Space

The band is allowed a certain inclination and the periodic arrangement of the cells allow the study of a single unit cell for which fully periodic boundary conditions are applied.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

To determine the factor of safety (FOS) against sliding of the rolling core inside the RNC isolator at an instant of time, let's refer to Fig. 6 and consider only the developed internal forces inside that core at a certain inclination angle α, between the neutral and the farthest deformed positions.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering (IJASE)

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Porphyry resolves this by saying that the soul is not locally present in the body but is present to it by a certain disposition or inclination towards the body (Sent. 3; 4).

SEP

Though Verheyden is not actively religious, his work displays the hallmarks of a certain metaphysical inclination.

The New York Times

An emotion influences behavior in a particular way that is, by providing or constituting a certain natural inclination.

SEP

Yet, social skills and a certain social inclination are key to being able to flourish in a self-organised team.

European Journal of Futures Research

Results also showed the effects of a double-cone insert on the flow patterns which converted silos from funnel flow to mass flow up to a certain hopper inclination angle and would improve the flow pattern even for shallower angles.

Particuology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a certain inclination" when you want to indicate a general tendency or preference without being overly specific. This allows for a degree of vagueness, which can be useful when the precise nature of the inclination is not fully known or relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "a certain inclination" when a stronger, more direct term like 'preference' or 'tendency' would be more appropriate. "A certain inclination" works best when the inclination is subtle or not definitively established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain inclination" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, specifically describing a particular tendency or preference. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a certain inclination" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's best employed to describe a general tendency or preference without being overly specific. While it appears in various contexts, it's most frequently found in scientific and news media sources. When greater specificity is needed, consider alternatives such as "a particular tendency" or "a specific predisposition".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a particular tendency

Changes the adjective to 'particular', emphasizing a specific, distinct tendency.

a specific predisposition

Replaces 'inclination' with 'predisposition', highlighting a pre-existing tendency.

a definite leaning

Substitutes 'inclination' with 'leaning', suggesting a bias or preference.

a marked propensity

Uses 'propensity' instead of 'inclination', indicating a natural tendency or habit.

a distinct bent

Replaces 'inclination' with 'bent', implying a natural talent or interest.

a noticeable trend

Shifts the focus to an observable pattern or direction.

a demonstrable penchant

Uses 'penchant' instead of 'inclination', suggesting a strong liking or fondness.

a clear bias

Highlights a prejudice or favoritism.

a inherent disposition

Replaces 'inclination' with 'disposition', implying an innate quality.

a subtle preference

Emphasizes a slight or understated liking.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain inclination" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain inclination" to describe a tendency or preference someone has. For example, "She has a certain inclination towards modern art" or "He showed a certain inclination to avoid responsibility".

What's a good alternative to "a certain inclination"?

Alternatives include "a particular tendency", "a specific predisposition", or "a definite leaning", depending on the context.

Is it better to be specific instead of using "a certain inclination"?

It depends on the context. "A certain inclination" is useful when you want to indicate a general tendency without being overly precise. If more precision is needed, a term like "strong preference" or "clear tendency" may be more appropriate.

When should I avoid using "a certain inclination"?

Avoid using "a certain inclination" if the tendency is very strong or obvious. In such cases, more direct terms like "obvious preference" or "strong tendency" are more suitable.