a key cornerstone

USAGE SUMMARY

'a key cornerstone' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that provides an essential basis for a larger concept or situation. For example, you might say, "Education is a key cornerstone of a successful future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Rather, they are undermining rule of law - a key cornerstone for democratic development, as well as social stability - the foundation of the city's economic prosperity," says the paper.

BBC

Ensuring good health and well-being is a key cornerstone of the SDGs framework, which will require political will, targeted financing and a thriving health innovation ecosystem.

Huffington Post

Partnerships are a key cornerstone of effective humanitarian action.

Unicef

A key cornerstone to the potential application of this knowledge will be effective use of electronic health records.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Mobile outreach caravan "Because education has positive advantages and is a key cornerstone in achieving the other Millennium Development Goals, we must continue to call for education for all," said UNICEF Representative in Benin Dr. Souleymane Diallo.

Unicef

"Education is a key cornerstone in achieving the 7 others MDGs, therefore we must continue to call for education for all," said the UNICEF Representative in Benin, Dr. Souleymane Diallo.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The key cornerstones of this 118-page minefield of legalese and jargon advocate the licensing of internet companies, along with killing the network neutrality that exists in India today.

The Guardian - Tech

EISCAT_3D will thus be one of the key cornerstones in the international endeavour to measure and predict space weather effects.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

These advancementswill drive healthcare efficiency where the human genome map complemented by themap of human proteome will be used as key cornerstones [10].

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Many in the tech world and Washington have railed against the encroaching and limiting effect of patents on innovation, but when the chips are down, IP and patents remain key cornerstones in how tech companies and their founders are making sure they will be able to build their businesses and stick around for the long haul.

TechCrunch

Importantly, this paper also covers some landmark ideas which have grown to become key cornerstones of the Thredbo series including the STO (strategic/tactical/operational) framework, regulatory cycles in the bus and rail sectors, as well as trusting partnerships between transport regulators and operators.

Research in Transportation Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "a key cornerstone" with a prepositional phrase that specifies what it underpins. For instance, use "a key cornerstone of democratic development" rather than just "a key cornerstone".

Common error

Avoid using "a key cornerstone" repeatedly in close proximity. Overuse diminishes its impact and can make your writing sound repetitive. Use synonyms such as "essential element" or "fundamental principle" for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a key cornerstone" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a particularly important foundational element. Ludwig shows that this phrase emphasizes the critical and essential nature of the noun it modifies, signifying that the identified element is not just important, but fundamentally crucial for the stability or success of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

39%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a key cornerstone" is a valid and useful phrase to emphasize the foundational importance of an element. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it often appears in news, business, and scientific contexts. The phrase functions as a noun phrase, highlighting something as fundamentally crucial. While grammatically sound, the phrase should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy. Consider alternatives like "essential element" or "vital foundation" for variety. Keep in mind that the noun following "a key cornerstone" should be abstract enough to logically support further conceptual development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a vital foundation

Replaces "cornerstone" with "foundation" and "key" with "vital", emphasizing the essential nature.

an essential element

Substitutes "cornerstone" with "element", focusing on a necessary component.

a critical component

Similar to "essential element", but highlights the importance for success.

a fundamental principle

Emphasizes the basic rule or belief aspect.

a central tenet

Highlights the core doctrine or belief.

a primary building block

Uses a construction metaphor to indicate a basic component.

an integral part

Focuses on the necessity of the element to the whole.

a bedrock principle

Emphasizes the firm and unwavering nature of the principle.

a linchpin

Implies that the element holds everything together.

a keystone

A single word substitution for "key cornerstone" maintaining the meaning.

FAQs

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

Use "a key cornerstone" to describe something that is fundamental or essential to a larger structure, concept, or process. For example, "Trust is "a key cornerstone" of any successful relationship."

What are some alternatives to "a key cornerstone"?

Alternatives include "an essential element", "a vital foundation", or "a fundamental principle" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "key cornerstone"? Isn't a cornerstone always key?

While "cornerstone" implies importance, adding "key" emphasizes its crucial role among other cornerstones or elements. It highlights that this particular cornerstone is of utmost importance.

What is the difference between "a key cornerstone" and "a main element"?

While both suggest importance, "a key cornerstone" implies a foundational role, something upon which other things are built. "A main element" simply indicates a significant component without necessarily being foundational.