an essential thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an essential thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when emphasizing the importance of a particular item or concept in a discussion or argument. Example: "In any successful project, communication is an essential thing that cannot be overlooked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Music was kind of an essential thing.

The New Yorker

Boring but an essential thing for 'mouse potatoes'.

The Guardian - Music

The ability to travel and work abroad is an essential thing for me.

The Guardian

And this is an essential thing to have if you are going to have a free country".

The New York Times

"Focus is an essential thing, but you sort of want to focus short-term and be expansive long-term," he explains.

The New York Times

I'd wanted to experience haute cuisine in Paris, because it seemed to me an essential thing to do, like going to the theater in London.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

For personal use a kiln sitter is a preferred and a sometimes essential thing.

WikiHow

"I still believe that public trust is a very essential thing, and I want to make sure that everyone knows that I am honorable.

The New York Times

For the killing of an American citizen to be legal, the document claims, you need one essential thing: "an informed, high-level official of the U.S. government [who] has determined that the targeted individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against the United States".

Huffington Post

More like an embed, then, but the essential thing is that Nina is an outsider, which she needs to be in order to fully appreciate them.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This grounding in the solid world helps explain how Garton Ash has been able to remain that rare and essential thing, a reasonable man.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an essential thing", ensure that the context clearly defines why the thing is essential. Be specific about its importance to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "an essential thing" as a generic filler. Instead, provide concrete reasons or examples to support why something is essential in the given context. Vague statements weaken the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an essential thing" functions as a noun phrase, where 'essential' modifies 'thing'. It indicates something of utmost importance or necessity. According to Ludwig, the phrase is used to highlight the critical nature of a particular item or concept.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an essential thing" is a common phrase used to emphasize the importance or necessity of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While versatile, it is important to provide clear justification for why something is essential. Related phrases include "a necessary element" and "a crucial component", offering alternative ways to express similar meanings. This phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a necessary element

Uses "necessary" instead of "essential", and "element" instead of "thing".

a crucial component

Emphasizes the critical importance by using "crucial" and specifies "component".

a vital aspect

Replaces "essential" with "vital" and "thing" with "aspect", focusing on importance.

a key requirement

Highlights the required nature using "key" and "requirement".

an indispensable item

Stresses the necessity by using "indispensable" and refers to a tangible "item".

a fundamental aspect

Highlights the foundational importance using "fundamental" and "aspect".

a core necessity

Emphasizes that something is at the center and is a necessity.

a basic need

Focuses on the fundamental requirement using "basic" and "need".

a critical element

Highlights the critical importance using "critical" and "element".

a significant factor

Focuses on the importance of something as part of a whole by using "significant" and "factor".

FAQs

How can I use "an essential thing" in a sentence?

Use "an essential thing" to emphasize the importance of something. For example: "In any successful project, communication is "an essential thing" that cannot be overlooked."

What are some alternatives to "an essential thing"?

You can use alternatives like "a necessary element", "a crucial component", or "a vital aspect" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "essential thing" or "important thing"?

"Essential thing" emphasizes that something is indispensable or crucial, while "important thing" simply means that something has significance. The better choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "an essential thing" and "a fundamental thing"?

"An essential thing" refers to something that is absolutely necessary, while "a fundamental thing" refers to something that is basic or foundational. While both are important, "essential" carries a stronger sense of necessity. You can use alternatives like "a fundamental aspect" depending on the context.