an integral

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an integral" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that is essential or necessary to a whole, often in mathematical or technical contexts. Example: "Collaboration is an integral part of our success as a team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We are an integral part of an integrated European economy.

The Guardian

Clearwire's spectrum is an integral component.

The New York Times

It's an integral focal point.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Chad's an integral part of this team.

The New York Times - Sports

It's an integral part of the plan".

The New York Times - Magazine

Death was an integral part of life.

The Guardian

They're an integral part of our offense".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's an integral part of education today".

The Guardian

Dave is an integral part of that".

The New York Times - Magazine

Architecture is an integral part of that.

The New York Times - Arts

Skyscrapers are an integral part of their character.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an integral" to emphasize that a component is essential and fundamentally necessary for the whole to function correctly. For instance, "Honesty is an integral part of any healthy relationship."

Common error

While "an integral" signifies importance, avoid using it excessively in casual writing. Overusing formal phrases can make your writing sound stiff or unnatural. Opt for simpler alternatives like "essential" or "key" where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an integral" primarily functions as a determiner followed by an adjective modifying a noun. It indicates that the noun it modifies is essential or fundamentally important. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an integral" is a phrase used to denote something essential or necessary. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While highly useful for emphasizing importance, it's best to avoid overuse in overly casual contexts, maintaining a balanced and natural tone in your writing. Remember to use this phrase when you want to highlight that something is fundamentally necessary for the proper function or completeness of something else. Consider alternatives such as "essential", "crucial", or "fundamental" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental

Emphasizes the foundational nature of something, similar to "an integral" but focuses more on its role as a base.

an essential

Highlights the necessity of something, closely mirroring the meaning of "an integral".

a crucial

Stresses the importance and decisive role of something, very similar to "an integral".

a vital

Indicates that something is necessary for the survival or success of something, akin to "an integral".

an indispensable

Suggests that something is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without, very close in meaning to "an integral".

a key

Highlights that something is of paramount importance, similar to "an integral" but more concise.

a core

Focuses on the central and most important part of something, similar to "an integral" but emphasizes centrality.

a basic

Points out the fundamental and necessary nature of something, similar to "an integral" but focuses on simplicity.

a requisite

Emphasizes that something is required or necessary, sharing the sense of "an integral" in a more formal tone.

a building block

Highlights the role of something as a fundamental component of a larger structure, a more metaphorical alternative to "an integral".

FAQs

How do you use "an integral" in a sentence?

"An integral" is used to describe something essential or necessary for completeness. For example, "Communication is "an integral part" of any successful team."

What are some alternatives to "an integral"?

You can use alternatives like "essential", "crucial", or "fundamental" depending on the context. For example, instead of "It's "an integral component"", you could say "It's "a crucial component"".

Is it correct to say "integral part of"?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "an integral part of" is commonly used to indicate that something is essential or necessary. For example, "Trust is an integral part of any relationship".

What's the difference between "an integral" and "an integrated"?

"An integral" means essential or necessary, while "an integrated" means combined or unified. For instance, "Math is an integral part of science," whereas "We have "an integrated system" for data management."