admits in principle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "admits in principle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a general acceptance or acknowledgment of a concept or idea, even if there are reservations or conditions attached. Example: "The committee admits in principle the need for reform, but they have concerns about the implementation process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At the same time, the miners, while remaining behind the strike, do not want violence either — they simply want a wage increase which even the government admits in principle is justified.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Keep in mind the over-under principle.

WikiHow

For Habermas, reasonable political discourse must at least begin with the supposition that legal questions admit in principle of single right answers (1996c, 1491 95), or at least a set of discursively valid answers on which a fair compromise, acceptable to all parties, is possible.

SEP

Although confessions were commonly admitted in criminal prosecutions, there was a growing respect for the principle that forcing suspected criminals to incriminate themselves violated fundamental human rights.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Women were admitted in 1969.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Whereas the priestly Sadducees taught that the written Torah was the only source of revelation, the Pharisees admitted the principle of evolution in the Law: men must use their reason in interpreting the Torah and applying it to contemporary problems.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If they have discarded it, they thereby admit that, on principle, it ought not to be in ours.

The New Yorker

we say that admits the antimaximum principle if.

Boundary Value Problems

Given, we say that admits strong antimaximum principle (SAMP) if admits AMP and, moreover, there exists such that (4.59).

Boundary Value Problems

Indeed, elementary arguments show that a classical solution not always exists already for (c=0), and one should in principle admit discontinuous solutions which satisfy the equation in a suitable weak sense, as was observed, e.g., in [8, 9].

Boundary Value Problems

Critically ill patients were admitted under the principle of 'first come, first served'.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "admits in principle" to show that there is agreement on an idea or plan in general, but that details may still need to be worked out or there are reservations about its practical application.

Common error

Avoid using "admits in principle" when there is complete and enthusiastic support for an idea. This phrase implies some level of reservation or unresolved issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admits in principle" functions as a verb phrase followed by a prepositional phrase, indicating a general acceptance or acknowledgment. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "admits in principle" is a grammatically sound way to express general agreement with an idea, even when there are reservations or complexities remaining. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not frequently used, its appearance in respected news sources and encyclopedias makes it suitable for neutral to formal contexts. Remember to use this phrase when there's a general acceptance of an idea, but the specifics still need ironing out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concedes in principle

A direct synonym, simply replacing "admits" with "concedes".

admits theoretically

Mirrors the original phrase but emphasizes the theoretical nature of the admission.

accepts in concept

Highlights agreement with the core idea, irrespective of specific details.

acknowledges in theory

Focuses on theoretical acceptance, highlighting a contrast with practical application.

accepts conditionally

Highlights the presence of conditions or stipulations attached to the acceptance.

concedes conceptually

Emphasizes a reluctant agreement or yielding to an idea at a conceptual level.

agrees in broad terms

Indicates a general agreement without necessarily endorsing specific details.

grants hypothetically

Suggests an acceptance purely for the sake of argument or hypothetical discussion.

allows provisionally

Implies a temporary or preliminary acceptance, subject to further review.

allows in abstraction

Focuses on permitting something in a removed, theoretical setting.

FAQs

What does "admits in principle" mean?

It means to generally agree with an idea or concept, while still having reservations or concerns about the details or practical implementation.

What can I say instead of "admits in principle"?

You can use alternatives like "acknowledges in theory", "concedes conceptually", or "accepts in concept" depending on the context.

How do I use "admits in principle" in a sentence?

For example, "The government admits in principle that wage increases are justified, but implementation remains a challenge."

Is "admits in principle" formal or informal?

It's generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for news articles, academic papers, and professional discussions.