a precondition of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a precondition of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to introduce a necessary condition or requirement for something to happen or be true. Example: Following all safety instructions is a precondition of using the machinery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Is quiet a precondition of democracy?

The New York Times

And it has made this a precondition of better relations.

The Guardian

That's a precondition of music, from the consumer side.

The New Yorker

Fixing that would be a precondition of any deal, he implied.

The Guardian

Respect for the individual is a precondition of private ownership protection.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Political self-understanding matters; it is a precondition of democracy," the report states.

The Guardian

A withdrawal would be the result, not a precondition, of negotiation, Runiga said.

The Guardian

Moreover, anxiety as a precondition of the maternal experience had not yet been invented.

The New Yorker

It is therefore almost a precondition of supporting it that you do not entirely support it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Indeed, this sincerity was probably a precondition of their connecting with a mass audience.

The New York Times - Arts

A willingness to do so might even be called a precondition of power.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a precondition of" to clearly state a necessary condition that must be met before a particular outcome or action can occur. Ensure that the relationship between the precondition and the outcome is unambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "a precondition of" when the condition is merely helpful or beneficial, but not strictly required. Using it inaccurately can overstate the importance of the condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a precondition of" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a necessary condition or requirement. It typically precedes a noun or gerund, specifying what is essential for something else to occur, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a precondition of" is a commonly used phrase to indicate a necessary condition that must be met before something else can occur. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, from formal academic writing to news media. While alternatives like "a requirement for" and "a prerequisite for" exist, "a precondition of" often emphasizes the temporal aspect—that something must come before. When using the phrase, ensure that the condition you are describing is genuinely necessary and not merely beneficial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prerequisite for

Emphasizes the necessity of something before something else can happen.

a necessary condition for

Stresses the logical necessity of something.

a requirement for

Highlights that something must be fulfilled.

a prior condition for

Emphasizes the temporal order, indicating something must come before.

an essential element of

Focuses on the fundamental nature of something needed.

a basic necessity for

Focuses on the need for something as a foundational element.

a fundamental requirement of

Highlights the basic and indispensable nature of something.

an indispensable part of

Underlines the crucial and irreplaceable aspect of something.

a qualifying factor for

Suggests something that determines eligibility.

a cornerstone of

Implies that something is a crucial element upon which other things depend.

FAQs

How can I use "a precondition of" in a sentence?

Use "a precondition of" to introduce a condition that must be fulfilled before something else can happen. For example, "Effective communication is "a precondition of" a successful collaboration".

What are some alternatives to "a precondition of"?

You can use alternatives like "a requirement for", "a prerequisite for", or "an essential element of", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "a precondition of" or "a requirement of"?

"A precondition of" and "a requirement of" are both relatively formal. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Precondition" emphasizes a condition that must be met beforehand.

What is the difference between "a precondition of" and "a basis of"?

"A precondition of" indicates something that must happen before something else, while "a basis of" refers to something that supports or underlies something else. For example, trust can be "a basis of" the relation but respecting deadlines is ""a precondition of"" maintaining the same relationship.