a key indicator of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a key indicator of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that serves as an important sign or measure of a particular situation or condition. Example: "The increase in sales is a key indicator of the company's overall growth and success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A key indicator of Broadway's health is advance sales.

The New York Times

Blood pressure is a key indicator of cardiovascular health.

Harvard University

Location is a key indicator of personal travel patterns and habits.

MIT Technology Review

For the first time since the great recession, a key indicator of economic progress is dropping.

The Washington Post

Poor sleep can be a key indicator of depression, substance abuse or other mental disturbances.

The Washington Post

c-Abl tyrosine kinase activation is a key indicator of oxidative stress6,7.

Nature

Doing it well is a key indicator of how effective you are.

Harvard Business Review

Economists see factory activity as a key indicator of the strength of a country's economy.

The Times

These devices help you keep tabs on a key indicator of your cardiovascular health.

Harvard University

In particular, performance in introductory STEM courses is a key indicator of pursuing STEM fields.

Stanford University

These sales are a key indicator of a company's business because they exclude new and closed locations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a key indicator of", ensure the indicator you're referencing is clearly defined and relevant to your argument. Provide context to help your reader understand why it's significant.

Common error

Avoid presenting something as "a key indicator of" a phenomenon if it's only weakly correlated or has other confounding factors. Accurately represent the strength of the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a key indicator of" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies something as a significant measure or sign pointing to a particular state, condition, or trend. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating this function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

37%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a key indicator of" is a commonly used phrase that serves to highlight the significance of a particular sign or measure. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse fields, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the indicator is clearly defined and directly relevant to the subject matter. While alternatives exist, such as "a major sign of" or "a significant marker of", the core message remains consistent: emphasizing the importance of a particular sign or measure in understanding a broader context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major sign of

Replaces "key indicator" with "major sign", emphasizing the importance but using a more general term.

a significant marker of

Substitutes "key indicator" with "significant marker", highlighting the noteworthiness of the sign.

a telling sign of

Replaces "key indicator" with "telling sign", suggesting the sign reveals information.

a primary measure of

Replaces "key indicator" with "primary measure", focusing on the aspect of assessment and importance.

a crucial gauge of

Changes "key indicator" to "crucial gauge", implying a tool for measurement and critical importance.

a vital clue to

Substitutes "key indicator" with "vital clue", implying the sign helps solve a problem or understand a situation.

a barometer of

Substitutes "key indicator" with "barometer", suggesting something that reflects changes in conditions.

an essential element of

Moves away from the "indicator" concept to "essential element", focusing on a necessary part.

a central diagnostic for

Changes "key indicator" to "central diagnostic", focusing on identification, especially in technical or medical contexts.

a hallmark of

Replaces "key indicator" with "hallmark", indicating a distinctive feature or characteristic.

FAQs

How can I use "a key indicator of" in a sentence?

Use "a key indicator of" to highlight an important sign or measure. For example, "Sales figures are "a key indicator of" a company's success."

What are some alternatives to "a key indicator of"?

You can use alternatives like "a major sign of", "a significant marker of", or "a primary measure of" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a key indicator of" in formal writing?

Yes, "a key indicator of" is suitable for formal writing, especially in academic, business, or scientific contexts. It clearly and professionally conveys the importance of a specific measure or sign.

What makes something "a key indicator of" something else?

Something is considered "a key indicator of" something else when it provides a reliable and important insight into the state, progress, or nature of that thing. It's usually a metric or sign that has been shown to have a strong correlation.