a critical cornerstone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a critical cornerstone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is essential or foundational to a particular concept, project, or argument. Example: "Effective communication is a critical cornerstone of successful teamwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This perhaps implies that letting people do something, instead of introducing what activity they should do, must be a critical cornerstone for behavioral changes towards environmentally responsible manners.

Fashion and Textiles

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The two presidents laid the critical cornerstone for global action toward an international accord in Paris next year.

Huffington Post

"An independent judiciary is one of the most critical cornerstones of a democracy," he said.

The Guardian

For that matter, it's one of the founding subjects of the modern cinema, one of the critical cornerstones of which is Eric Rohmer's 1948 essay "For a Talking Cinema".

The New Yorker

Egypt's tourism industry, a cornerstone of the economy and a critical source of hard currency, has been struggling since the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule and ushered in a period of political and economic upheaval.

The Guardian

This important observation is a cornerstone of models of addiction (4,5), in which a critical element of the addictive process is the transition to habitual behavior that is relatively insensitive to the current hedonic value of the outcome.

Biological Psychiatry

The first Bayonetta was a critical hit but hardly a substantial seller, more a cult classic than a cornerstone of collections the land over.

Vice

This is a critical issue as the artisanal fishery, accounting for 96%% of Omani landings, represents the cornerstone of the national industry, directly employing around 40,000 fishermen (Fishery Statistics Book 2012; Piontkovski et al. 2014).

International Aquatic Research

We are satisfied that the law school adequately considered race-neutral alternatives currently capable of producing a critical mass without forcing the law school to abandon the academic selectivity that is the cornerstone of its educational mission.

The New York Times

Indeed, a cornerstone of the theory is that the absolute level of craving is a critical determinant of behaviour, which is also supported by the current data where overall experiential craving was more important than the experimental manipulation.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

It played a critical role in helping Brown, by, er, forcing his hand with a rival initiative, make his cornerstone Proposition 30 in 2012 more oriented to taxes on high-income Californians, thus making it more electorally attractive.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a critical cornerstone" to underscore the fundamental and indispensable nature of a particular element or idea within a larger system or argument. It is effective for highlighting something crucial for success or stability.

Common error

Avoid using "a critical cornerstone" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can diminish its impact. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a critical cornerstone" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It identifies and emphasizes something as fundamentally important. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a critical cornerstone" is a phrase used to emphasize the fundamental and indispensable nature of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various writing contexts. It's especially useful in science, news, business and formal settings. While synonyms like "an essential foundation" or "a vital component" exist, "a critical cornerstone" adds a degree of emphasis. However, avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Remember to use this phrase when you want to highlight something that is absolutely essential for success or stability in the matter at hand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an essential foundation

Replaces "critical cornerstone" with a more straightforward expression of importance and foundational nature.

a vital component

Substitutes "cornerstone" with "component" to highlight its role as a necessary part.

a key element

Emphasizes the importance of the element without the architectural metaphor.

a fundamental principle

Highlights the foundational aspect of the cornerstone, focusing on principles.

a crucial ingredient

Uses the metaphor of an ingredient to represent a necessary element.

an integral part

Focuses on the inseparability and necessity of the element.

a central aspect

Emphasizes the aspect being a focal point.

a linchpin

Replaces "cornerstone" with a single word that means something holding separate parts together.

a backbone

Uses a biological metaphor to suggest a structural and supportive role.

a keystone

Synonym to "cornerstone" and maintains the architectural metaphor.

FAQs

How can I use "a critical cornerstone" in a sentence?

You can use "a critical cornerstone" to emphasize the fundamental and essential nature of something. For example: "Effective communication is "a critical cornerstone" of successful teamwork."

What are some alternatives to "a critical cornerstone"?

Alternatives include "an essential foundation", "a vital component", or "a key element" depending on the context.

Is "critical cornerstone" redundant?

While "cornerstone" inherently implies importance, adding "critical" can further emphasize the indispensable nature of the element being described. However, consider whether the emphasis is necessary to avoid redundancy.

What is the difference between "a cornerstone" and "a critical cornerstone"?

"A cornerstone" simply indicates a foundational element. "A critical cornerstone" stresses that the element is not only foundational but also absolutely essential and vital for success or stability.