a core virtue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a core virtue" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a fundamental quality or principle that is essential to a person, organization, or belief system. Example: "Honesty is considered a core virtue in our company culture, guiding all our interactions and decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As Oreskes and Conway argue in Merchants of Doubt, it's a way of using a core virtue of science against itself.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The resentment felt here is rooted in a belief that Iceland's core virtue of flinty self-reliance has been defiled by its bankers and foreign creditors.

The New York Times

Hospitality is, like pacifism, a core Christian virtue, and some Mennonites believed that playing the anthem was justified to help students from other backgrounds feel welcome.

The New York Times

Ho questioned whether medical professionalism developed by Western physicians could be adapted to non-Western countries with different social, historical, and cultural backgrounds, and found a difference between the core virtues of medical professionalism in Western countries and those in Chinese culture.

BMC Medical Ethics

"It was a way for us to get back to our core virtues around music discovery and passion for new, underground subversive bands," said Van Toffler, the president of MTV Networks' music group and a 20-year veteran of the company.

The New York Times - Arts

The band's connection to its core virtues has become at the very least a road map for getting older, at most a kind of ethical standard.

The New York Times - Arts

Leadership and courage are needed from public schools – two of their core virtues.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of federalism's core virtues is the possibility of competition among states.

The New York Times

Two core virtues which Maddy identifies for set-theoretic axioms are UNIFY (i.e. that they provide a single foundational theory for deciding set-theoretic questions) and MAXIMIZE (i.e. that they not arbitrarily restrict the range of isomorphism types).

SEP

These benefits, particularly, have been underscored as the core virtues of integration.

BMC Health Services Research

For example, the concept of character strengths has been disaggregated into six core virtues of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance and transcendence [ 81].

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a core virtue" when you want to emphasize that a particular quality is fundamental and essential to the subject you're discussing. For example, you might say "Integrity is a core virtue for any leader."

Common error

Ensure you are identifying qualities that are truly foundational, rather than simply desirable. A core virtue should be indispensable to the subject's identity or function, and the absence of a core virtue would undermine that identity or function.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a core virtue" functions as a noun phrase identifying a fundamental and essential moral quality. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe values in various contexts, such as science, religion, and personal character.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

23%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a core virtue" is a noun phrase used to emphasize the fundamental importance of a particular virtue. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and used across various contexts, including news, science, and ethics. While it may not be the most frequently used phrase, it effectively highlights the centrality of certain values. Related phrases include "a fundamental principle" and "an essential quality", offering alternative ways to express the same concept with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental principle

Replaces "virtue" with "principle", emphasizing a basic belief or rule.

a central tenet

Substitutes "virtue" with "tenet", highlighting a key doctrine or belief.

a key attribute

Replaces "virtue" with "attribute", focusing on a characteristic or quality.

an essential quality

Replaces "core virtue" with "essential quality", offering a more descriptive alternative.

a primary value

Substitutes "virtue" with "value", emphasizing a deeply held belief.

a basic strength

Replaces "virtue" with "strength", focusing on a positive attribute.

a moral imperative

Shifts the focus to a moral duty or obligation.

a defining characteristic

Highlights a trait that distinctly identifies something.

an integral aspect

Emphasizes that the virtue is a necessary part of something.

a foundational element

Highlights the virtue as a base or support for something.

FAQs

How can I use "a core virtue" in a sentence?

You can use "a core virtue" to describe a fundamental and essential quality. For example, "Honesty is "a core virtue" in any trustworthy relationship".

What are some alternatives to "a core virtue"?

Some alternatives include "a fundamental principle", "an essential quality", or "a primary value", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "core virtue", since virtue implies something essential?

While "virtue" does imply something positive and valuable, using "core virtue" emphasizes that the quality is not just important, but absolutely fundamental and central to the subject being discussed.

What is the difference between "a core virtue" and "a moral imperative"?

"A core virtue" refers to a fundamental quality or characteristic, while "a moral imperative" describes a duty or obligation. A virtue is something to be cultivated, while an imperative is something to be obeyed.