are foundational to

USAGE SUMMARY

"are foundational to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe two things that are essential to each other. For example, "A strong work ethic and effective communication skills are foundational to success in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The findings are foundational to a more informed, coordinated response to building resilience across the region".

The Guardian

"African-Americans are foundational to U.S. popular culture, and for Latinos there's the adjective 'Latin' music that's used to describe a variety of musical forms.

The New York Times

The couplings of choices from these two systems are foundational to the process of affiliation.

Functional Linguistics

More interesting than they sound, these laws are foundational to protecting free speech online.

TechCrunch

For experiences of material features of the body are foundational to our sense of our sexed identity.

SEP

I'm just trying to teach you concepts that are foundational to the realm of science, not change your belief system".

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"He was foundational to me.

The Guardian - Books

This fourth rule is foundational to the other three.

The Guardian

The 2nd Amendment is foundational to this country.

The New York Times

"It's foundational to why I am a criminal defendant today".

The New Yorker

How she turns makes public the private is foundational to our current use of photography.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are foundational to" when you want to emphasize that certain elements are absolutely necessary for the existence, development, or success of something else. This phrase adds weight to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "are foundational to" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "are essential for" or "are key to" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are foundational to" functions as a predicate adjective, modifying the subject by asserting that it provides a fundamental basis or underlying structure for something else. This construction indicates that the subject is essential or indispensable. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are foundational to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize the fundamental or essential nature of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears commonly in news, science, and formal business contexts, indicating a neutral-to-formal register. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations where you want to underscore the critical importance of one element to another. Remember to consider your audience and context when using this phrase, opting for simpler alternatives in informal settings. Key related phrases include "are essential to" and "are fundamental to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are fundamental to

Replaces "foundational" with "fundamental", emphasizing the basic and essential nature.

are essential to

Substitutes "foundational" with "essential", highlighting the necessity of something.

are critical to

Uses "critical" instead of "foundational", suggesting a crucial and decisive importance.

are integral to

Replaces "foundational" with "integral", emphasizing that something is an indispensable part of a whole.

are vital to

Uses "vital" instead of "foundational", highlighting the life-sustaining or extremely important nature.

are key to

Substitutes "foundational" with "key", suggesting that something is essential for achieving a particular outcome.

are basic to

Replaces "foundational" with "basic", emphasizing the rudimentary or elementary nature.

are central to

Uses "central" instead of "foundational", highlighting its importance as a core element.

are paramount to

Substitutes "foundational" with "paramount", stressing the supreme or overriding importance.

are crucial to

Replaces "foundational" with "crucial", indicating something is decisive or critical.

FAQs

How can I use "are foundational to" in a sentence?

Use "are foundational to" to indicate that certain principles, concepts, or skills are essential for something else. For example, "Strong reading and writing skills "are foundational to" academic success".

What are some alternatives to "are foundational to"?

You can use alternatives such as "are essential to", "are fundamental to", or "are critical to" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "are foundational to" in all types of writing?

While grammatically correct, "are foundational to" is more suited for formal and academic writing. In informal contexts, consider using alternatives like "are important for" or "are basic to".

What is the difference between "are foundational to" and "are important to"?

"Are foundational to" implies a stronger, more indispensable relationship than "are important to". Foundational elements are those upon which everything else is built, while important elements may simply contribute to success or well-being.