an underlying connection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an underlying connection" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a fundamental or hidden relationship between two or more concepts, ideas, or entities. Example: "Upon further analysis, we discovered an underlying connection between the two theories that had previously gone unnoticed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But there is always an underlying connection, I suppose — fish to fish, cow to cow.

The New Yorker

"There's an underlying connection, but I'm not sure what it might be," Professor Schulman said.

The New York Times - Science

Since the number-of-operations estimate came from information theory, and the number-of-bits estimate came from physics, Dr Lloyd takes the coincidence between the two as evidence of an underlying connection between information theory and physical reality.

The Economist

Some investigators suspect an underlying connection is controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA), in which the hypothalamus may not respond efficiently to physiological triggers instigated by sleep disturbances [18,58].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

We reveal an underlying connection of the energy flux essential for turbulence energy cascade to the irreversible probability flux and the non-Gaussian potential landscape generated by detailed balance breaking.

Annals of Physics

However, I still feel there is an underlying connection between the Chardon shooting and other bully-fueled violence tragedies.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Metamorphosis of Plants is both an aesthetic experiment that fuses the rarely seen movements of plants with the hyper-trained movements of a ballet dancer, but it's also a philosophical exploration in our underlying connection to botanical life.

Vice

Sometimes two or three notions will occur to me, and I will trust — or hope! — that, because they are in my brain at the same time, there is some underlying connection between these ideas.

The New Yorker

This exhibition attests to the health of object-making of all kinds and also to art-oriented activism, as in the Arakawa/Bohl art classes and Transformazium project — suggesting that play is the crucial, underlying connection.

The New York Times - Arts

In other words, the above literature occasionally uses variables that we identify as possibly related to IOS, without of course making the underlying connection.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

When discussing the continuum, the two extremes and their underlying connection will be tackled.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an underlying connection" when you want to suggest a non-obvious or fundamental relationship between ideas, events, or phenomena. It adds depth and encourages further exploration.

Common error

Avoid using "an underlying connection" when a direct, obvious connection is present. Reserve it for situations where the relationship is subtle or requires deeper analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an underlying connection" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving to identify a relationship that is not immediately obvious or readily apparent. Ludwig examples show this in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an underlying connection" is grammatically correct and used to describe a relationship that is not immediately obvious, often requiring further analysis. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase. Although relatively rare, its usage spans across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media and scientific domains. When using this phrase, aim to suggest depth and invite further exploration, avoiding its application in overly simplistic or obvious scenarios. Alternatives like "a fundamental link" or "a hidden relationship" may offer suitable substitutions depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental link

Focuses on the basic or essential nature of the connection.

a fundamental relationship

Focuses on the basic or essential nature of the relationship.

a hidden relationship

Emphasizes that the connection is not immediately obvious.

a subtle association

Highlights the delicate or understated nature of the connection.

a latent link

Implies the connection exists but is not currently active or visible.

a concealed relationship

Suggests the connection is intentionally hidden or not easily discovered.

an intrinsic bond

Emphasizes a natural or essential connection.

an inherent link

Highlights the connection as a built-in or natural part of something.

a deep-seated connection

Emphasizes the firmly established or difficult to remove nature of the connection.

a non-obvious relationship

Implies that the relationship needs further investigation to see the correlation

FAQs

How can I use "an underlying connection" in a sentence?

Use "an underlying connection" to suggest a non-obvious relationship between different things. For example: "The researcher discovered an underlying connection between the seemingly unrelated symptoms."

What's a good alternative to "an underlying connection"?

Alternatives include "a fundamental link", "a hidden relationship", or "a subtle association" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "underlying connection" or "obvious connection"?

"Underlying connection" implies a less apparent relationship requiring analysis, while "obvious connection" indicates a clear, easily recognized relationship. The choice depends on the context.

What is the difference between "an underlying connection" and "an apparent connection"?

"An underlying connection" suggests a relationship that is not immediately visible but exists at a deeper level. "An apparent connection" indicates a relationship that seems evident on the surface but might not be entirely accurate or complete.