a suitable figure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a suitable figure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person or object that is appropriate or fitting for a particular context or situation. Example: "In the presentation, we need to include a suitable figure to illustrate our main point effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

I asked what a suitable figure might be.

The New Yorker

None of this helped to persuade the British government that Peter was a suitable figure to lead a postwar Yugoslavia.

The Guardian - Travel

And, after tetchy exchanges about whether he was a suitable figure to have as a potential candidate, Farage eventually refused to take answer any more questions about him.

The Guardian

Further doubts have been expressed about whether former BBC director-general Mark Thompson is a suitable figure to take over as the new chief executive of the New York Times NYTT) in an opinion piece published by the paper.

Independent

This could question our choice of the QFI as a suitable figure of merit.

EPJ Quantum Technology

A suitable figure showing various sequence registers might be all that is needed to make this point.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Monti, highly regarded internationally, has been mooted for weeks as the most suitable figure to lead a national unity government charged with pushing through more austerity measures and badly needed reforms.

The Guardian - Business

Monti, highly regarded internationally, has been pushed by markets for weeks as the most suitable figure to lead a national unity government to urgently push through painful austerity measures.

The Guardian - Business

Monti, highly regarded internationally, has been pushed by markets for weeks as the most suitable figure to lead a national unity government charged with pushing through more austerity measures and badly needed reforms.

The Guardian - Business

But the primary goal of the report, which was completed in January and made public Friday, was not to determine whether Mr. Rice had abused his players, or whether he was a suitable authority figure for a group of young men.

The New York Times - Sports

SolidWorks Software was used to create a suitable model (Figure 3b), which was later printed out of HTM140 polymer using Objet 3D-printer.

EPJ Techniques and Instrumentation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, clearly define the criteria that make a value or model "a suitable figure" for analysis or comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "a suitable figure" without providing context or explanation. Readers need to understand why the person or object is considered suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a suitable figure" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or object. It describes a person or thing that is appropriate or fitting for a particular role, purpose, or situation. Ludwig examples illustrate this across news, media, and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a suitable figure" is a phrase used to describe someone or something appropriate for a specific context or role, as shown in the examples Ludwig provides. It's grammatically correct and more frequent in news and scientific writing. While the phrase is most appropriate for news, media, and scientific contexts, it can also be used in business settings. Alternatives include "an appropriate figure" and "a fitting figure", depending on the specific shade of meaning intended. It's important to provide enough context for readers to understand why something or someone is considered suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an appropriate figure

Replaces 'suitable' with 'appropriate', suggesting a contextually fitting choice.

a fitting figure

Uses 'fitting' instead of 'suitable', implying something that aligns well with the situation.

a proper figure

Substitutes 'suitable' with 'proper', indicating adherence to standards or norms.

a relevant figure

Replaces 'suitable' with 'relevant', focusing on the pertinence to the matter at hand.

a qualified figure

Uses 'qualified' in place of 'suitable', suggesting competence or eligibility.

an ideal figure

Replaces 'suitable' with 'ideal', implying the best possible choice.

an acceptable figure

Substitutes 'suitable' with 'acceptable', indicating a satisfactory but not necessarily optimal choice.

a satisfactory figure

Uses 'satisfactory' instead of 'suitable', suggesting that it meets the minimum requirements.

a viable figure

Replaces 'suitable' with 'viable', focusing on the feasibility or practicality of the figure.

a practical figure

Substitutes 'suitable' with 'practical', indicating that it is effective and useful in the real world.

FAQs

How can I use "a suitable figure" in a sentence?

You can use "a suitable figure" to describe someone or something that is appropriate or fitting for a particular purpose or situation. For example, "He was considered "a suitable figure" to lead the project because of his experience."

What can I say instead of "a suitable figure"?

You can use alternatives like "an appropriate figure", "a fitting figure", or "a proper figure" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a suitable figure"?

The phrase "a suitable figure" is appropriate when you want to indicate that someone or something is well-matched or qualified for a specific role, task, or situation. The phrase can be used in many contexts, from scientific discourse, as in the example Ludwig shows "This could question our choice of the QFI as "a suitable figure" of merit", or business context, in order to show an element meets expectations.

Which is correct, "a suitable figure" or "suitable figure"?

Both "a suitable figure" and "suitable figure" can be correct depending on the context. "A suitable figure" is used when referring to a specific individual or object. "Suitable figure" (without the article) might be used in more general or abstract contexts as an adjective before a noun. Consider: "Finding "a suitable figure" to lead the team was challenging" versus "Experience is a suitable figure to judge if a candidate can perform well."