a focal role

USAGE SUMMARY

"a focal role" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an important responsibility or position taken on by an individual, organization or thing. For example, "The Prime Minister took on a focal role in negotiating a peace accord between the two countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mr. McMullan has played a focal role in all this, becoming an ally of his subjects and a starmaker.

The New York Times - Style

Frankovsky is a Facebook vice president in hardware design and supply operations who plays a focal role at Open Compute.

TechCrunch

But when all was said and done, she had played a focal role in the Falcons' swimming team winning its fifth straight team title, while she was part of league title-winning swims in both the 200-yard medley relay and 200-freestyle relay.

Los Angeles Times

Our findings indicate that RAP plays a focal role in the biology of amyloid deposition either by regulating the maturation of proteins that modulate APP processing and Aβ metabolism, or by directly modulating other yet to be defined aspects of amyloidogenesis.

Plosone

In mouse embryos, derivatives of the trophoblast lineage play a focal role in PGC specification (Fig. 1A).

Development (Cambridge)

He made the definition and adoption of a new system recognizable for others, made its acceptance an obligatory passage point for entering the network, and he became indispensable in the process, playing a focal role.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology and their focal role in Genome Wide Association Studies GWASS) have rekindled a growing interest in the whole-genome sequence assembly (WGSA) problem, thereby, inundating the field with a plethora of new formalizations, algorithms, heuristics and implementations.

Plosone

As a student and personal friend of Husserl, Patocka was keenly aware of the focal role of reason in the constitution of experienced reality.

University of Chicago

The focal role had by GSK-3 β in U-GSCs could be easily explained by interactions with the main signalling pathways, which sustain GSC self-renewal and propagation, SHH/GLI and Wnt/ β-catenin.

Cell Death and Disease

The Spartans, who have been moved up to Division III, only lost four seniors, but the crop of Katherine Sheehy, Megan Reilly, Rose Quezada and Emma Tapp were all valuable contributors with plenty of experience, including playing focal roles in the Spartans' run to a Rio Hondo League title and a Division V championship appearance in 2014.

Los Angeles Times

The real problem with State Fair -- in which the home-spun Frake family spends three days at the Iowa State Fair winning prizes for mincemeat and a pig -- is that it was miscast in its four focal roles.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a focal role", ensure that the context clearly defines what the subject is focal to. Clarity prevents ambiguity and strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a focal role" when describing something that is merely supportive or secondary. Reserve it for truly central functions to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a focal role" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a predicate nominative or an object of a preposition. It identifies the kind of role being played, emphasizing its importance. Ludwig AI provides examples of its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a focal role" is a grammatically sound expression used to highlight the central importance of a person, object, or concept. Ludwig's analysis, together with examples from diverse sources, shows that its usage is particularly prevalent in scientific and news contexts. Although not extremely common, the phrase is well-established and appropriate for formal communication. When using "a focal role", ensure that the context clearly defines what the subject is focal to. This practice increases clarity and eliminates ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "a central function" or "a key part" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a central function

Replaces "role" with "function", highlighting the activity or purpose more directly.

a key part

Substitutes "role" with "part", emphasizing the contribution to a larger whole.

a major component

Emphasizes the significance of the element as part of a system or process.

a critical element

Highlights the necessity and importance of the role.

a significant position

Replaces "role" with "position", focusing on the importance or rank held.

a primary responsibility

Shifts focus to the duties and tasks associated with the role.

an integral aspect

Emphasizes that the aspect is necessary for completeness.

a leading factor

Highlights the influence and guidance exerted by the role.

a cornerstone

Suggests that the role is fundamental and essential.

a linchpin

Indicates the role is crucial for holding everything together.

FAQs

What does "a focal role" mean?

The phrase "a focal role" indicates that something or someone plays a central or essential part in a particular situation or activity. It signifies importance and influence.

How can I use "a focal role" in a sentence?

You can use "a focal role" to describe the importance of someone or something. For example: "The CEO played "a focal role" in the company's turnaround."

What are some alternatives to "a focal role"?

Some alternatives to "a focal role" include "a central role", "a key part", or "a critical element". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "a focal role" the same as "a pivotal role"?

While both phrases suggest importance, "a pivotal role" implies that the role is crucial to a change or turning point, whereas "a focal role" simply means the role is central or essential to something.