a principal influence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a principal influence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that has a significant impact or effect on a situation, decision, or outcome. Example: "Her research served as a principal influence on the development of the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

For centuries, Latin was the language of the learned, and a principal influence on the literate.

The New Yorker

Although he left no writings, his teachings and monastic institutions inspired an oral tradition that exerted a principal influence on Russian spirituality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock last week announced that the Government was implementing the change and cited the IEA's "extensive research" on the issue as a principal influence on the decision.

Independent

His sometime flirtation with the near-avant-garde showed him, rather than his employees, out of his depth, and even as a mainstream player, the replacement of Louis Armstrong by the great Kansas City trumpet player Buck Clayton as a principal influence failed to ignite Humph's own playing to anything like the same extent, or so it seemed to me.

The Guardian

For example, his contemporary Edgar Degas (whose works, along with Japanese prints, were a principal influence on him) expressed movement by carefully rendering the anatomical structure of several closely grouped figures, attempting in this way to depict but one figure, caught at successive moments in time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I think a principal influence for retaining annual testing (and for not reducing the testing to randomly selected students even) is the influence of Kati Haycock and her Education Trust, which, along with others, including civil rights groups, petitioned Congress to keep the tests.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In 1948 he became a student of Lennie Tristano, who was the principal influence upon his art.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Perhaps Mead's principal influence in philosophical circles occurred as a result of his friendship with John Dewey.

SEP

Pianist Ethan Iverson, a contemporary of Mehldau's, stated that Mehldau was the principal influence on his peers, beginning in the late 1990s.

Wikipedia

Her principal influence, however, was over the changing social mores of a Britain already well engaged in the Industrial Revolution.

The New York Times - Arts

He later studied briefly in New York with Louis Persinger, who had been Yehudi Menuhin's teacher, but always regarded Mr. Blinder as his principal influence, saying that what he admired in him was a teaching style that valued instinctive musicianship over scales and technical exercises.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a principal influence", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being influenced. This strengthens the sentence and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid confusing "principal", meaning main or primary, with "principle", which refers to a fundamental truth or proposition. Using "principle" in place of "principal" will result in an incorrect sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a principal influence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It identifies the primary source of impact or effect, as demonstrated in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a principal influence" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote the primary source of impact or effect. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's not extremely common, appearing more frequently in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. It's crucial to differentiate between "principal" and "principle" to avoid errors. Alternative phrases like ""a major factor"" or ""a key driver"" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Make sure the context clearly specifies what is being influenced for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a formative influence

Adds the adjective 'formative' to emphasize that the influence shapes or molds something.

a major factor

Switches from 'influence' to 'factor', emphasizing the importance of something as a key element.

a significant impact

Focuses on the effect by using 'impact' instead of influence.

a leading factor

Indicates that it is a top or most important factor involved.

a key driver

Replaces 'influence' with 'driver', highlighting the propelling or motivating aspect.

a primary force

Uses 'force' instead of 'influence', suggesting a more active and powerful effect.

a powerful effect

Highlights the strength of the influence with the adjective 'powerful'.

a central element

Substitutes 'influence' with 'element', focusing on the integral and necessary nature.

a critical component

Replaces influence with the term 'component' to indicate it's an essential part.

a dominant aspect

Emphasizes the prevailing or most noticeable feature using 'dominant aspect'.

FAQs

How can I use "a principal influence" in a sentence?

You can use "a principal influence" to describe something or someone that has a significant impact on a particular outcome. For example: "Her mentorship was a principal influence on my career path."

What are some synonyms for "a principal influence"?

Some alternatives to "a principal influence" include "a major factor", "a key driver", or "a significant impact", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "principal influence" or "major influence"?

Both "principal influence" and "major influence" are grammatically correct and widely used. "Principal" suggests the most important influence, while "major" suggests a large or significant one. The choice depends on the specific context and the degree of impact you want to emphasize.

What's the difference between "a principal influence" and "a contributing factor"?

"A principal influence" suggests a primary or leading cause, while "a contributing factor" indicates one of several elements that played a role. The former has more weight.