a main basis

USAGE SUMMARY

"a main basis" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is the primary, fundamental, or most important factor in a situation. For example, "Education is a main basis for success in life."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health Policy

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is a particular problem when predictions are a main basis for informed decision making in the absence of any supporting data from appropriately designed empirical or controlled study.

Health Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As it appears that the plane was mistaken for a military aircraft, the main basis for criminal liability would be recklessness or criminal negligence, argues Payam Akhavan, a professor of international law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

The Economist

Such a concept forms the main basis of this paper, and we will examine the game theoretical geometry in greater details with the support of case studies.

Plosone

Although contracts won under competitive tendering or by negotiation are assessed on a number of evaluation criteria, cost efficiency still remains the main basis for selecting a preferred operator.

International Journal of Quality Innovation

Although contracts won under competitive tendering or by negotiation are often assessed on a number of evaluation criteria, cost efficiency still remains the main basis for selecting a preferred operator.

International Journal of Quality Innovation

Medievalists, following the French scholar Joseph Bédier, sometimes revert to the traditional practice, to which their training may dispose, of selecting a single witness as the main basis of the text.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tertiary interactions identified by CSA have been incorporated into current 3-D models of 16S ribosomal RNA and RNase P RNA and even formed the main basis of a model of the three-dimensional architecture of group I self-splicing introns, which has been widely used, and is now known to have been accurate as far as architecture is concerned.

Methods in Enzymology

This is the main basis for a huge shale gas potential of the Lower Paleozoic shale in south China predicted by scholars and organizations (Zhang et al. 2012; EIA 2011, 2013).

Petroleum Science

What should be the main basis is a student computer-generated portfolio.

Huffington Post

The main basis for a decision to sick list the patient should be the patient's medical situation.

BMC Family Practice

"We were told the written bid document, and the finding of the inspection delegation who came to look at our facilities, would be the main basis on which a decision was made," Mawhinney said.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a main basis" to clearly indicate the most important reason, foundation, or justification for something. It's useful in arguments, explanations, and analyses where prioritizing factors is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "a main basis" when a simpler term like "the reason" or "the foundation" would suffice. It can sound unnecessarily formal in casual conversation or very basic explanations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a main basis" functions as a noun phrase, identifying the principal reason, foundation, or justification for something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, demonstrating its role in providing clarity and emphasis in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a main basis" serves to identify the principal foundation or reason for something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and provides real-world examples of its usage. While relatively rare, the phrase is appropriate for various contexts, including science, news, and academic writing. It is more formal than everyday language and should be used when precision and clarity are important. Alternatives like "a primary foundation" or "a key element" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary foundation

Emphasizes the foundational aspect; slightly more formal.

a key element

Highlights the importance of a specific component.

a fundamental principle

Focuses on the underlying rule or concept.

a central component

Stresses the importance of being core and essential.

a core tenet

Highlights a belief or principle that is central to a system of thought.

a crucial factor

Indicates an element that is decisive or critical.

a chief reason

Focuses on the primary cause or explanation.

a principal component

Similar to key element, but emphasizes the importance of being substantial.

a driving force

Highlights the element that propels or motivates something.

a leading reason

Emphasizes that it's one of the biggest factors.

FAQs

How can I use "a main basis" in a sentence?

You can use "a main basis" to indicate the primary reason or foundation for something. For example, "Cost efficiency is "a main basis" for selecting a preferred operator."

What phrases are similar to "a main basis"?

Alternatives to "a main basis" include "a primary foundation", "a key element", or "a fundamental principle" depending on the specific context.

Is "main basis" formal or informal?

"Main basis" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts, but might be overly formal for casual conversations.

What's the difference between "a main basis" and "the main basis"?

"A main basis" suggests one of several possible primary reasons, while "the main basis" implies that there is only one key reason or foundation.