a fundamental role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fundamental role" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to refer to an important or essential role that someone or something plays in a particular situation or context. Example: "Education plays a fundamental role in shaping a person's future success." In this example, "a fundamental role" is used to describe the importance of education in a person's life and future prospects.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Gut bacteria play a fundamental role in host functions.

The Guardian

Private investment will play a "fundamental role".Maybe.Maybe

The Economist

But no doubt the music itself now has a fundamental role in her life.

The New Yorker

The probation service has a fundamental role in keeping our communities safe.

The Guardian - Opinion

Beyond genes, which obviously play a fundamental role, is soda pop a major factor?

The New York Times

Parents, of course, have a fundamental role to play in the academic success of gifted children.

The New York Times

Software measurement plays a fundamental role here.

Information Sciences

The following lemmas play a fundamental role in this paper.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

These requirements play a fundamental role in extremely dense scenarios.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

CTCs play a fundamental role in tumor distant metastasis.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Energy resources play a fundamental role in the world's future.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fundamental role", ensure the context clearly establishes what is fundamentally affected. Clarity in the connection strengthens the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "a fundamental role" when a less significant contribution is more accurate. Overusing the phrase diminishes its impact and can make writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fundamental role" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It emphasizes the essential or foundational nature of something within a given context. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fundamental role" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the critical importance of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for highlighting essential aspects across diverse fields such as science, news, and business. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure its use accurately reflects the actual significance, avoiding exaggeration. Alternatives like "an essential function" or "a crucial part" can offer nuanced expressions depending on the intended context. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, writers can effectively leverage "a fundamental role" to convey impactful meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an essential function

Replaces 'role' with 'function', emphasizing the necessary task or activity.

a crucial part

Substitutes 'role' with 'part', highlighting the importance of being a component.

a key element

Changes 'role' to 'element', focusing on an indispensable component.

a significant factor

Replaces 'role' with 'factor', emphasizing the contribution to a result.

a central aspect

Changes 'fundamental' to 'central' and 'role' to 'aspect', focusing on core importance.

a pivotal contribution

Replaces both 'fundamental' and 'role' with synonyms highlighting crucial influence.

a cornerstone of

Uses a metaphor to describe the foundational importance.

an integral component

Highlights that something is an essential part of a larger whole.

a primary driver

Emphasizes the active influence in causing or directing something.

at the heart of

Uses a metaphor indicating central importance.

FAQs

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

Use "a fundamental role" to emphasize the crucial importance of something in a particular context. For example: "Education plays "a fundamental role" in societal development."

What are some alternatives to "a fundamental role"?

You can use alternatives like "an essential function", "a crucial part", or "a key element" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a fundamental role"?

It's appropriate when something is indispensable or foundational to a process, outcome, or system. Ensure that removing or altering this element would significantly impact the overall result.

What is the difference between "a fundamental role" and "a major role"?

"A fundamental role" suggests an element is foundational and indispensable, while "a major role" indicates significant importance but not necessarily a foundational one. Something can have a major role without being fundamental.