act as a linking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act as a linking" is not correct in English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "These words act as a linking mechanism between the two ideas presented."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Instead, ALQ/TAGL1 might act as a linking factor between flower development and fruit ripening networks, allowing the reproductive development to be successfully completed.

Plosone

Therefore, TAGL1 could act as a linking factor connecting successive stages of reproductive development, from flower development to fruit maturation, allowing this complex process to be carried out successfully.

Plosone

Datasets are linked at the individual level using first name, surname, date of birth, gender and postcode as the matching variables, and then a unique anonymous identifier is assigned to each individual in the dataset to act as a linking field across datasets.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Vcl acts as a linking protein in focal adhesion and has been studied within the context of cancer [26].

Plosone

He argued that it would act as a middleman, linking those with the ready cash with the councils, housing associations or local developers who wanted to spend it.

The Guardian

It would also act as a link between the voluntary sector and "those with political influence".

The Guardian

Pen pal projects can also act as a link between those with niche interests.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Companies in Britain use corporate brokers to advise on equity market rules and to act as a link with investors.

The New York Times

Bowden restored the unity council, a group of 13 players who act as a link between the coaching staff and the team.

The New York Times - Sports

Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and George Jones are cool enough for younger artists to name-drop, but they also enjoy enough consensus to act as a link between those artists and older listeners.

The New Yorker

Many in the parliamentary party will be looking to the deputy leader, Tom Watson, to act as a link between the leader's office and the parliamentary party over the next week.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "act as a linking", opt for more precise and correct alternatives such as "act as a connector" or "serve as a bridge" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

The phrase "act as a linking" suffers from unnecessary nominalization. Try to avoid turning verbs (link) into nouns (linking) when a more direct verb-based construction would be clearer and more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act as a linking" attempts to describe something that connects or joins two entities. However, it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect, suggesting that more standard constructions should be preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "act as a linking" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as incorrect. While it attempts to convey the function of connecting or joining, it's best to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "act as a connector", "serve as a bridge", or even simply "act as a link". These alternatives offer clarity and credibility, especially in scientific or technical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

act as a connector

Grammatically correct form of the query.

act as a bridge

Implies creating a connection to overcome a divide or gap.

serve as a bridge

Suggests a more substantial connection, like overcoming a gap.

function as a connector

Highlights the role of joining or uniting different elements.

work as a connection

Uses simpler language to convey the idea of joining things together.

operate as an intermediary

Focuses on facilitating communication or action between parties.

act as an interface

Suggests a formal point of interaction between systems or entities.

serve as a liaison

Highlights the role of communication and coordination between groups.

facilitate a connection

Emphasizes making a connection easier or more possible.

establish a link

Highlights the creation of a formal or recognized connection.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "act as a linking"?

You can use phrases like "act as a connector", "serve as a bridge", or "function as an interface" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "act as a linking" considered correct in formal writing?

No, "act as a linking" is not considered correct in formal writing. It's better to use grammatically correct and widely accepted phrases such as "act as a link" or "function as a bridge".

How can I use the idea of "act as a linking" in a sentence correctly?

Rephrase your sentence to use a more appropriate construction such as "This protein "acts as a bridge" between two cellular processes" or "The system "functions as a connector" between different databases".

What's the difference between "act as a link" and "act as a linking"?

"Act as a link" is grammatically correct and means to serve as a connection. "Act as a linking" is not standard English and should be avoided. Use alternatives like "act as a connector" instead.