an underlying principle of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an underlying principle of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a fundamental concept or belief that serves as a foundation for a particular idea, theory, or system. Example: "The underlying principle of democracy is the belief in the equal rights of all citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"That kind of customer focus is an underlying principle of Six Sigma".

The New York Times

It's an underlying principle of civil law that the state, police and judiciary have the obligation to protect the citizenry from harm.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unclogging kitchen sinks excepted, an underlying principle of "quietly good design" is that it should make whatever you are doing seem more enjoyable.

The New York Times

All for less than $40 .3. Aldo Bakker's tableware Unclogging kitchen sinks excepted, an underlying principle of "quietly good design" is that it should make whatever you are doing seem more enjoyable.

The New York Times

"Equating theory with hypothesis is the booboo that boils the blood," fulminates Joe Rosen of Bethesda, Md. Judith Weiss, president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, agrees: "In science, the word theory refers to an underlying principle of observed phenomena that has been tested and verified.

The New York Times - Magazine

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is different because it encodes this key on light particles called photons, and an underlying principle of quantum mechanics means that a hacker trying to read or copy such a key would automatically alter its state, effectively leaving a hacker fingerprint so the sender and receiver know their information security had been breached.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

There's an underlying principle for any form of engagement, whether it's employee engagement, customer engagement (and the government's personalisation agenda will demand this) or even two people pledging their affections – and it is this: engagement correlates with how the relationship makes us feel about ourselves.

The Guardian

This equity-based approach is an underlying principle for UNICEF in all areas of our work, not just in our work with technology and innovation.

HuffPost

Again, transparency is a fundamental underlying principle of the Commission, as the Chairman articulated earlier.

Harvard University

A key underlying principle of the vināśitvānumāna is that negative facts, such as absences, are not part of the ultimate furniture of the world, but are just fictional conceptual constructions, as they are devoid of causal powers.

SEP

And indeed transparency is a key underlying principle of GDPR, which places requirements on data controllers to clearly explain to people what personal data they intend to collect and for what exact purpose — in order to gain informed consent for processing the data (or, if not consent, another valid basis is required for the data processing to be legal).

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an underlying principle of", ensure you clearly articulate what that principle is and how it influences the subject you are discussing. Provide specific examples to illustrate its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "an underlying principle of" to describe well-known or self-evident concepts. This can make your writing seem redundant. Instead, use the phrase to reveal less obvious, yet crucial, foundational aspects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an underlying principle of" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a fundamental concept or idea upon which a theory, system, or practice is based. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an underlying principle of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to introduce a fundamental concept or idea. As noted by Ludwig, it’s most common in scientific and news contexts, with applications extending to academic and business domains. When writing, ensure the principle is clearly defined and relevant to the discussion. Avoid stating the obvious and instead use the phrase to reveal non-trivial foundational aspects. Consider alternatives like "a fundamental tenet of" or "a core concept of" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental tenet of

Replaces "underlying principle" with "fundamental tenet", emphasizing the foundational nature of the concept.

a basic premise of

Substitutes "underlying principle" with "basic premise", focusing on the foundational assumption.

a core concept of

Uses "core concept" instead of "underlying principle", highlighting the central idea.

a foundational idea of

Replaces "underlying principle" with "foundational idea", stressing the role as a base or foundation.

a central theme of

Shifts from principle to "central theme", emphasizing a recurring idea.

the key basis of

Replaces "underlying principle" with "key basis", focusing on the foundation upon which something rests.

the essence of

Focuses on the most important aspect or quality, which may not be explicitly stated but is fundamental.

the heart of the matter

Highlights the central and most important point, often implying a deeper understanding is needed.

the rationale behind

Focuses on the reasoning or justification that underpins a concept or action.

the philosophical underpinning of

Specifies that the principle is related to a specific philosophical idea.

FAQs

How can I use "an underlying principle of" in a sentence?

Use "an underlying principle of" to introduce a core idea that forms the basis of a theory, system, or practice. For example, "The underlying principle of democracy is the sovereignty of the people".

What are some alternatives to "an underlying principle of"?

You can use alternatives like "a fundamental tenet of", "a basic premise of", or "a core concept of" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "underlying principle" or "fundamental principle"?

"Underlying principle" and "fundamental principle" are often interchangeable. "Underlying" suggests a less obvious or deeper foundation, while "fundamental" emphasizes a basic, essential nature. Choose the word that best fits the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "an underlying principle of" and "a guiding principle of"?

"An underlying principle of" refers to a foundational concept upon which something is based. "A guiding principle of" refers to a rule or belief that directs actions or decisions. While related, the former is about foundations, and the latter is about direction.