The phrase "a definite element of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a specific and identifiable part or aspect of something, often in analytical or descriptive contexts.
Example: "The study revealed a definite element of bias in the data collection process."
Alternatives: "a clear component of" or "a specific aspect of".
In that sense the novel contains a definite element of the empire speaking back.
But the initial encounter between the designers and the artist had a definite element of surprise.
In an area where accommodation and food can be on the staid side, this revamped pub adds a definite element of fun.
First there was a definite element of fashion following the austerity agenda with simple, utilitarian shoes, apparently reflecting the uniforms of working men (quite literally on the wet pavements at Topman Design).
And while there was no injustice in the Red Bulls drawing level after sustained pressure (though there was a definite element of luck in the ball ricocheting in off Felipe's face), the Galaxy showed enough early-season solidarity and sense of maturity from their emerging players that you suspect the usual Bruce Arena pacing of a season is going on.
By writing mass balance for a definite element of porous medium, the continuity equation is determined (Ahmed 2011).
On the other hand, lines are considered to be most definite elements of art.
We suggest that these phylogenies are biased towards metabolism-based classifications (i.e. the clustering of organisms based on similarity of metabolism) rather than on the basis of recentness of common ancestry, although definite elements of both come through in the same analysis.
The languid, rainy-day eroticism of Barber's music has a definite jazz element: you can skew it Romantically, toward Rachmaninoff, or off toward Satie and Bill Evans, and Jarrett's relaxed poise makes the latter approach perfectly valid.
But I actually believe it's a definite combination of both elements.
The characterization of such canonical copies would be also important for a definite classification of these elements.
