an indicative of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an indicative of" is not correct in English; it should be "indicative of." You can use "indicative of" to describe something that serves as a sign or indication of a particular quality or condition.
Example: "The rising temperatures are indicative of climate change."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A value for 1/n below 1 indicates a normal Langmuir isotherm while 1/n above one is an indicative of cooperative adsorption (Fytianos et al. 2000).

Applied Water Science

These data indicate that mass-specific daily metabolic rate and energy assimilation efficiency (an indicative of digestive and absorptive processes) may be responsible for differential tissue Cd accumulation in the bank vole.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology

Aesthetically challenged it may be, an indicative of curatorial flabbiness, but one leaves feeling that one's preconceptions about gender, beauty and power have had a more than decent workout.

The New York Times - Arts

A negative sign for ΔG° is an indicative of the spontaneity of any chemical process.

Applied Water Science

Any change in its position and absorbance can be taken as an indicative of growth process.

Nanoscale Research Letters

A value of k between 1 and 2 is an indicative of low wind.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Dramatic ER distension is usually an indicative of severe ER stress (Wikstrom et al., 2013).

Protein & Cell

(2) These figures are an indicative of the textual content (and indirectly efforts) in a post.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Focused echocardiography showing left ventricular hypokinesia may be an indicative of cardiogenic shock.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Unlikely, the coupling strength for intra-molecular phonons is an indicative of weak coupling theory.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

This is an indicative of relatively higher lubricating property of this system.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and precision in your writing, consider alternatives such as "a sign of" or "evidence of" to avoid potential confusion caused by the grammatically incorrect "an indicative of".

Common error

Avoid using "an indicative of." "Indicative" is an adjective and needs to modify a noun. Instead, use "indicative of" or "an indication of." For example, write "This is indicative of progress" or "This is an indication of progress."

Linguistic Context

An indicative of is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "indicative of" or "an indication of". The phrase aims to function as a way of pointing to something as a sign or signal of something else, but the incorrect grammar undermines this function. As Ludwig AI also highlights, it should be avoided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "an indicative of" appears in various contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the proper forms are either "indicative of" or "an indication of". The phrase attempts to convey that something is a sign or signal of something else. When used correctly ("indicative of"), the register can be neutral to formal, particularly in scientific and news sources. However, because "an indicative of" is an error, it should be avoided, especially in formal writing. Remember to use "indicative of" (adjective) or "an indication of" (noun phrase) for correct grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sign of

This is a direct and simple alternative, focusing on the signaling aspect.

a signal of

Similar to "a sign of", but implies a more deliberate communication.

a measure of

This suggests a quantifiable aspect, where something is being assessed.

evidence of

Emphasizes the factual and verifiable nature of the indication.

a reflection of

Implies that something mirrors or represents something else.

a demonstration of

Suggests a clear and observable display of something.

a symptom of

Often used in medical or problem-oriented contexts, suggesting an underlying issue.

a clue to

Implies that something offers a hint towards understanding something else.

an index of

Indicates a standardized or systematic way of measuring or showing something.

a representation of

This alternative highlights that something stands in for or embodies something else.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "indicative" in a sentence?

Use "indicative of" followed by what it points to. For example, "The results are indicative of a larger trend."

Is it ever correct to say "an indicative of"?

No, "an indicative of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is either "indicative of" or "an "an indication of"".

What are some alternatives to saying something is "indicative of"?

You can use alternatives like "a sign of", "suggestive of", or "evidence of", depending on the context. For example, "The results are "a sign of" progress".

How does "indicative of" differ from ""an indication of""?

"Indicative of" uses the adjective form, while ""an indication of"" uses the noun form. Both convey a similar meaning, but the sentence structure differs. "Indicative of" directly modifies a subject, while ""an indication of"" uses "is" or "are" before the phrase.